The Tickle Trunk
Inspired by childhood wonder. Filled with grown-up tools for blooming from the inside out.
As a kid growing up in Canada in the 1970s, there was one place we could always count on for magic, imagination, and comfort: CBC television. And at the heart of that magic was a kind, soft spoken man with a heart as big as the country itself—Mr. Dressup.
Ernie Coombs, lovingly known to all of us as Mr. Dressup, captured our hearts with his soft-spoken nature, his kind eyes, and his unwavering belief in the power of play. With his trusty puppet pals, Casey and Finnegan, he invited us into a world where anything was possible—where cardboard boxes became castles, pipe cleaners turned into creatures, and a single idea could spark an entire adventure.
But the true crown jewel of the show was…
The Tickle Trunk
That blooming red chest wasn’t just a storage box. It was a portal. Every time Mr. Dressup walked toward it my three year old self would sit up a little straighter, get giddy with excitment and hold my breath in anticipation. What would he pull out today? A firefighter’s hat? A pirate’s eyepatch? A trumpet? A magician’s cape?
With each swing of the trunk’s lid, I was reminded that creativity was endless, wonder was always within reach and playtime was the best part of the day.
Looking back now, I see how much Mr. Dressup shaped who I am. He nourished my love for storytelling, my passion for performance, and my belief that imagination is sacred. He planted the seeds for what would later become my career as an actress, my writing, my journaling, and the Bloom books I now share with the world.
✨ The Bloom Trunk: A Grown-Up Version of the Tickle Trunk
We may have grown up… but the Tickle Trunk doesn’t have to stay in the past.
In fact, I believe every adult needs their own version of a Tickle Trunk—what I like to call the Bloom Trunk.
It’s not filled with costumes (although, never say never!), but with tools—real, soul-nourishing tools to help us stay grounded, joyful, and connected to the magic within us. Things like:
A journal and a pen, to stay connected to you
A favourite playlist that instantly lifts your mood
A mantra or affirmation that brings you back to your centre
A silly dance move to shake off the seriousness
A meditation that brings peace to your breath
A letter from your younger self—or your future self to help you stay committed your dreams and goals
A blooming reminder that joy is your birthright
Let’s be honest: adulting comes with a whole lot of stuff that isn’t fun. Stress. Confusion. Grief. Overwhelm. Worry. Sadness. Disappointment. And the feeling of always being busy. These are the moments when we feel like we’ve lost our sparkle, our wonder, our curiousity and our ability to play.
But, when we pause… open our Bloom Trunk… and choose a tool that speaks to our soul, we begin to reconnect with the part of us that still believes in magic.
That inner child—the one who giggled along with Mr. Dressup and believed she could be anything she wanted to be—is still here. Still blooming. She’s just waiting for an invitation to play.
So go ahead.
Reach into your Bloom Trunk today.
And let your joy, imagination, and connection to self be a part of your everyday. Mr. Dressup would be proud.
✍ Journal Prompt:
What are some of the tools in your Tickle Trunk—your Bloom Trunk—that help you stay grounded, joyful, and connected to your inner child?
