Rediscover Play
How much play do you have in your life these days? Have you been “adulting” a lot with very little energy or room for play in your life?
Many of us experienced a loss of play when two years of lockdown and fear of superseded everything. So many kinds of play were set aside. What kind of experiences did you have built into your life that you gave up?
The story we often tell ourselves, especially when we are responsible for others, is that there is no room for play in our lives; that play is for younger or less responsible people. It is time to tell a different story.
Many of us experienced a loss of many things we did to play when two years of lockdown and fear of illness and loss superseded everything. So many kinds of play were set aside. What kind of experiences did you have built into your life that you gave up?
The story we often tell ourselves, especially when we are responsible for others, is that there is no room for play in our lives; that play is for younger or less responsible people. It is time to tell a different story.
Many of us experienced a loss of many things we did to play when two years of lockdown and fear of illness and loss superseded everything. So many kinds of play were set aside. What kind of experiences did you have built into your life that you gave up?
The story we often tell ourselves, especially when we are responsible for others, is that there is no room for play in our lives; that play is for younger or less responsible people. It is time to tell a different story.
Play is a very useful experience when we need to find the balance between ME and WE. When we, as individuals engage in play, everyone benefits.
“The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression.” Dr. Stuart Brown
Play is an important part of reducing stress, improving connection, improving mental health and optimizing creativity and problem solving.
Here are Dr. Stuart Brown’s 7 Attributes of Play:
1. PURPOSELESSNESS
Or rather, apparent purposelessness. It may not necessarily earn money or bring about material advantages.
2. VOLUNTARY NATURE
Play does not force us to take part because of duty or external requirements. If a person feels obligated, the activity loses its play component.
3. INHERENT ATTRACTION
Play is fun, and it makes us feel good. It is a cure for boredom.
4. FREEDOM FROM TIME
When we are playing we lose track of time.
5. DIMINISHED SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS
When we are playing, we drop the need to look good. There's no concern for what others think of us. There's no thought about thought and we become lost in the activity.
6. IMPROVATIONAL POTENTIAL
We are open to serendipity and chance occurrences that can lead to creativity and the discovery of new things.
7. CONTINUATION OF DESIRE
In play, we desire its continuation and will invent new means to make it last.
These properties of play make play the essence of freedom. Nothing energizes our brains like Play!
What have you done to discover play in this season of life? Does play need to look different for you in this season than it did before?
I recall how after I had my first daughter, I felt disoriented because I had new limitations with how I spent my time. I didn’t understand that my need to swim or bike was how I experienced the altered state of play that was so helpful, dare I say, essential, to my feeling of wellbeing.
A move to a new community had a similar impact.
Covid was also disorienting.
It is time to rediscover play. It doesn’t need to be expensive. It doesn’t need to be organized. It can be solitary or social.
Changing any established behaviour patterns is very challenging! You may be feeling less than playful.
May I encourage you to give yourself permission to explore something new? Take pictures, go to a baseball game, find a team or group to join, take a class, make a new friend, laugh.
If you would like to explore more about the benefits of play? Check out this highly informative, classic video.
https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_play_is_more_than_just_fun?language=en