On Play

The sound of children’s laughter and voices. Smell of dirt and grass. The feel of a warm air breeze on the skin. The taste of some summer treat like ice cream or a snowcone. 

Remember when the world was easy? It was full of joyous discoveries and you would wonder at what could be. A forest could become a battlefield, a medieval realm, or secretive gathering place for friends. Imagination blended seamlessly with reality. 

The movie screen transported you into other worlds where you became deeply absorbed into a story. A shovel, a friend, a backyard, and a garden hose made you happier than anything. Building sandcastles and kingdoms was so natural. 

What happened? 

Did it gradually change? Was it sudden? How old were you when you stopped playing with those action figures or barbies? At what point did you stop playing pretend with friends and move on from childish games? Were you shamed out of it or did it slowly fade? 

Did you know the last time you played with toys just cause, would be your last time? 

It’s normal development to move on and for priorities to change. However, isn’t there a saying about taking what’s good and leaving the rest? There is something so pure and good about a child’s ability to play. 

What would it mean to cultivate this quality as an adult? 

A lighthearted attitude towards the day and others. A willingness towards enjoyment rather than productivity. A curiosity that cannot be quenched. 

The best part is that you get to decide the form it takes. Knowing yourself and how you would like to play, you’ll be able to find what fits best. You get to remember what it’s like to be silly. 

Will you play a game? Create a story? Make believe that something that isn’t, is? 

There’s lots of reasons we can lose abilities, but isn’t the opposite also true? Can we regain old abilities? You can, can’t you? Or maybe you haven’t had the good experience yet of knowing what you’re already capable of, of what you already do daily. 

Sometimes we remember something long forgotten and sometimes we forget something long remembered. It can be easy to breathe. It can be easy to eat. It can be easy to let one minute pass. 

Could you pick up a pen? How about a sock that doesn’t match? If you can pick something up then you can remember. Will you remember today or later?