Let's pretend you're eight and you have a six year old sibling. Your mom announces: "Today we're going to play carnival!" Gleeful yeahs, clapping of hands, and jumping up and down is the response. Waiting for the 'go'-you are given small sticks as "tickets" that will allow you to play at a "station." Each station is set up in the backyard. Stations include: swinging on the swing set, kneeling on a chair and leaning over the back dropping clothes pins in a Mason jar, jump roping, throwing a ball in a bushel basket and hopscotch. After giving your 'ticket' to your mom, she would play with you at each station. Time would stand still in a fun place on a summer afternoon...Thanks mom for doing this for me and my sister...
Child psychologists say that our motivation for 'play' is intrinsic yet we, as we get older, gradually lose that sense for recreation for recreation sake. Unfortunately, we have gaps in our lives of wasted time when those potential pockets of wonder could be filled with playing. I can remember when in elementary school the means of communication would be passing an occasional note to a classmate. It would simply say: "Would you play with me at recess? ____Yes (check) ____No." Wow! To be asked to play with someone on the playground made us look out the window with eager anticipation.
As young adults it seems that it is not 'cool' anymore to indulge the child-like impulse to play; often times our empty hours are just that, empty. Or we might think that we're playing but really the time entails just being a distraction or being mean at another's expense. That's not fun. That's not play.
Think about the last time you enjoyed being in others' company and playing Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, Sorry, Chinese Checkers, or Battleship. How about Uno, Rook, Racko or Euchre? Your mind and social needs are met in the arena of a good time, and the sheer joy we experience from being the recipient of strategy, planning and luck is just plain fun. It's the exchange of laughter, conversation...it's being involved with friends or family in a common pursuit that is the reward in and of itself. It makes us feel good...it's the sharing.
Go ahead - put down the singular, self-absorbed focus of the phone and pick up a stick and go play!
**Next post: 11/14/13