I did something wild recently. I treated myself (and dragged along the family) into a blazing pit of danger, peril, and foam blocks.

Yes, I played The Floor is Lava.

Now, let me confess something upfront: I have the coordination of a distracted toddler trying to walk on a Slip ‘N Slide. My inner ninja warrior got stuck somewhere between the trampoline and the safety mat. I fell. A lot. I probably invented new ways of falling. But I laughed, screamed (with joy… mostly), and I played.

Why?

Because I wanted to spark some team spirit. And I wanted to remind us, especially myself, that sometimes you have to take the leap. Sometimes you miss. Sometimes you land on foam lava. And sometimes you look really good doing it (that was not my moment, but I was rooting for it).

The Floor is Lava isn’t just a game. It’s a metaphor. For life, for leadership, for love, for Fridays. There are hot pockets everywhere: at work, in relationships, in your inner monologue at 3am. The trick is: don’t get burned, don’t panic, and don’t freeze. Make your move. Be strategic. Laugh through it. And when you can’t tiptoe? LEAP.

We all have our lava zones, those stress points and fears that threaten to knock us off balance. But just like the game, progress doesn’t come from standing still. It comes from daring to hop forward, one wobbly step at a time, even if you land with a thud and an ungraceful, slightly embarrassing yelp.

Would I do it again? Heck yes. Because in a world full of metaphorical lava, we all need reminders that coordination is optional, but courage is not.

So the floor is lava, friends. Keep jumping.