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Is Play the Key to Happiness or Taboo?
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I struggle with play, honestly...and that worked for me historically...always pushing harder...but it doesn't work anymore for me.
I love to play. Sometimes, like Misha said, I definitely feel guilty because I have other things that need to be done. I was so disappointed that we didn't go sledding while we were in Buffalo. I was looking forward to it all week and then everyone said it was too cold. But we did go ice skating, at least. And while not all play is the same for me now as when I was a kid, I still prefer play to work!
Like Misha, I have a hard time with play. Sadly, I feel like I've forgotten how sometimes. I'll sit down with my daughter & she has all kinds of imaginative ideas that just flow from her little noggin, and I'll sit there and think "What am I supposed to do?"Maybe there needs to be a Play School we could go to to learn how to play again.
Play is the key to fun, but fun and happiness are not the same thing.
I think I still play. My walk to the bakery was just for fun, and I play Scrabble, and I go to parties and play games...But I'd like to play MORE. :)
I still love to color. I keep markers and a coloring book in my nightstand for when I just get the urge to color. Then I tear out the picture and give it to my husband to hang on the fridge. ;o)
The article doesn't really talk about reading, video games or board games as play. Is Goodreads play? I fill my free time doing things I want to do, so that is fun and I'd call it playing. This reminds me of weekend warriors that can't turn off the competitive drive and just experience nature, they must conquer it.
Kristina wrote: "I still love to color. I keep markers and a coloring book in my nightstand for when I just get the urge to color. Then I tear out the picture and give it to my husband to hang on the fridge. ;o)"I don't do it very often, but every couple of years or so I'll purchase a coloring book and markers and get down to business. I like going back with a black marker and outlining everything when I'm finished.
People should go watch Star Trek again."The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play." -- James T. Kirk
Carol, I am definitely in the "Goodreads is play" camp. And what can I say, TCers are fun to play with!
Rachel, I love that quote... from the Capt'n himself! :)
Kay, have no clue who that last dude is BUT I had no idea I loved so many Capt'ns! Wow. Is there a name for that fetish? hehehe
Tenille was so out of his league.
yesterday at my mentoring session at the school i work with one of my boys (3rd grader) brought some project work he had to get done. it was coloring in line drawings of log cabins, covered wagons and stockade fencing. (when i asked what subject this was for he said "science or social studies. i'm not sure") anyway i said "you probably won't get this done during our time together" to which he replied "not if you don't start helping me" and he handed me a orange crayon.i haven't colored for maybe 12 yrs (since my youngest was 7 probably). it was relaxing
::Big Grin:: Aw, that sounds so cool. I love that kind of bonding. My daughter is a little artist and she'll enlist me to draw & color with her. We worked on minions (from Despicable Me) the other day to send to Jared and we had a blast.
I love the minions--I was SO jealous when I found out Barb got a minion with her DVD.
Barb wrote: "Hi Jammies"*scoops up Barb as my own personal minion*
Aw man! We looked everywhere for those for xmas. Well, I'm happy you gave the little guy a home. :)
Every time I see this thread title, I want to add "time" to "play" because when I read it, it makes me think of playas and gives this thread a whoooole new tone.
It makes me angry that Adult Novelty Stores are not filled with games, jokey toys and fun stuff like that.
Which combination has proven most satisfying?
A winner every time!Even when you're shooting craps?
Barb wrote: "I hear ya ... I keep thinking of an adult variety of role playing ..."i'm so glad i'm not the only one.
Not to get all seriuss on all of you, but it says a lot about how screwed up we are that we only think of playing in terms of sex, not in terms of having silly fun giggly things to do and enjoy. :(
Jammies wrote: "Not to get all seriuss on all of you, but it says a lot about how screwed up we are that we only think of playing in terms of sex, not in terms of having silly fun giggly things to do and enjoy. :("I didn't really.
When I think of "silly fun giggly things to do and enjoy," I think "playful," I think, "playtime,"
But yeah... I see "play" in the way it's phrased up there in the title, I think "playa" or the play button on my dvd player... and it loses its joie de vivre. I don't like that.
Jammies wrote: "Not to get all seriuss on all of you, but it says a lot about how screwed up we are that we only think of playing in terms of sex, not in terms of having silly fun giggly things to do and enjoy. :("there's a difference between 'play' and 'playing.'
janine wrote: "Jammies wrote: "Not to get all seriuss on all of you, but it says a lot about how screwed up we are that we only think of playing in terms of sex, not in terms of having silly fun giggly things to ..."That's what I was trying to say! :) Thank you, Janine!
Barb wrote: "What Janine said ... especially if "taboo" is in the same sentence. Just defending my dirty mind."And yet more of what I was trying to say... thanks, Barb!
Dirty minds don't need defending, Barb, I have one too! I was just musing on the fact that it's more accepted for an adult to make lewd jokes than to skip rope. I guess context is everything.Sorry, everyone.
The Key to Happiness: A Taboo for Adults?
We live in a culture obsessed with wringing an external result from everything we do. Play doesn't operate on that metric. It's not about the end but the experience. This has made play one of the last remaining taboos, an irrational deviation from gainful obligation. What we don't realize, though, is that it's precisely the lack of a quantifiable result that allows play to tap a more meaningful place that satisfies core needs and reveals the authentic person behind the masks of job and society.