Remember the seeming suspension of time when you were playing as a kid? Whether riding a bike, climbing trees, tinkering with something you took apart, playing dress-up, twirling in circles, or just laying on freshly cut grass while you identified objects in the clouds – you were happy and lost in the spiritually refueling world of PLAY!
I recently read the book “Play – How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul” by Stuart Brown. I’m not an expert about the practices in other cultures, societies, countries, but I do know that more and more Americans are being raised and living with an all work, little play, ethic that is slowing strangling us. Through studies, plus his own observations of thousands of clients, Dr. Brown emphasizes the crucial importance of play to the sustenance of our brains, to innovative thinking and creativity, to the nourishment of our souls and survival on this planet.
Even without such high goals as using play for generative leadership, let’s just take a look at bringing more JOY into our lives!
Since you might need a reminder of just what constitutes play, I’ll start with a refresher of the properties of play by Dr. Brown. And keep in mind that what is considered “play” is in the eyes and preference of the player! Although the proof of the importance of play is overwhelming, something that makes play “play” is its apparent purposelessness – it is done for its own sake. It is also voluntary and has innate attraction – it’s fun and feels good to the player. We experience freedom from the sense of time; we are in the flow. We are not self-conscious – we stop worrying if we look good, or if we are doing it “right.” It has an improvisational component and we desire to continue the activity. True play is not competitive, self-critical, obsessive, or injuring to us or others.
Since you might need a reminder of just what constitutes play, I’ll start with a refresher of the properties of play by Dr. Brown. And keep in mind that what is considered “play” is in the eyes and preference of the player! Although the proof of the importance of play is overwhelming, something that makes play “play” is its apparent purposelessness – it is done for its own sake. It is also voluntary and has innate attraction – it’s fun and feels good to the player. We experience freedom from the sense of time; we are in the flow. We are not self-conscious – we stop worrying if we look good, or if we are doing it “right.” It has an improvisational component and we desire to continue the activity. True play is not competitive, self-critical, obsessive, or injuring to us or others.
Dr. Brown talks about a play signal, such as the unmistakable dog’s “play bow” that seems universally understood by other dogs, humans, deer, polar bears (photos of the polar bear playing with a dog are in the book), and probably every animal going. A dog is quite clear when inviting you to play!
So what PLAY brings you JOY? When is the last time you really lost yourself in some form of play that you love? Remind yourself of the play that is inherent to your very soul, your very being, that makes you uniquely you. Make a commitment and go do it! What is your Play Signal? Your clear unmistakable signal to others that you are ready, willing, and able to Play Now. It might be a certain smile, gesture, or even music. Promise yourself to play every day in any way, and keep that promise!
Wishing you more four-letters words like play – pets, skip, jump, swim, golf, fish, jazz, joke, toys, race, draw, make, bake, sing, bike, hike, live…
Robin Fernandez
Nature of Being
