Make time to play! Shining sun, refreshing breezes, and sparkling water call us to play. Play is a powerful human instinct. Have you ever thought about the opposite of play? Would you guess work? According to the psychiatrist of play, Dr. Stuart Brown, the opposite of play is depression.
Here is how Dr. Brown defines play: 1. apparently purposeless, 2. provides enjoyment, 3. suspends self-consciousness, 4. suspends the sense of time
For me, play is that childlike sense of discovery, release from the predictable, and immersion of self into enjoyment. Psychologists are discovering unexpected benefits of play. Manhattan psychologist Penny Donnefeld found that play reduces stress hormones in the bloodstream, may keep our arteries clear, and keep us alive longer. Yet, what do we hear from others? Work before play; play is for children.
The economic downturn has forced many of us to work harder with fewer employees to share that work. We go home to more work, repeating this process daily. Under chronic stress the drive to play will disappear, and eventually, illness ensues.
A group of my friends from Nashville take a motorcycle road trip each year. When pressed for why, they say to spend quality time, explore, recharge, and make lasting memories, while feeling like a kid playing on a big toy! Dr. Brown says we need to take play to the bedroom. He says that the best sex is playful sex. When partners connect by doing something playful, they are freeing themselves from predictable behaviors and inviting some excitement into the relationship. He encourages couples to put suggestions of something playful to do together in a “love jar”. They select suggestions for activities when the time is right. Yes, I know, he DOES live in California! And he keeps an office in a TREEHOUSE!
Shared play bonds family members. In my family, the grandchildren clamored to get a spot by their beloved Pepa in the big white swing on the back porch. Their little legs didn’t reach the ground, so he push ed them and snuggled them while they giggled with delight. He pointed out the sights, smells and sounds of nature. After his death, only one possession was requested, the big white swing!
The genius inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci, stated that the mind must be clear to generate new ideas. “Great ideas”, he said, “occur during periods of total relaxation, not during periods of deliberate effort.”
According to Leo, the more we play, the smarter we get!
If you are play challenged, try some of these ideas from others:
- Catch lightning bugs
- Dig in the dirt
- Ride a bike
- Play with dogs
- Wade in a stream
- Hang out with little kids
- Roll down a hill
- Celebrate the sunset
- Dance with yourself
- Eat messy food like watermelon and Popsicles
- Rent a convertible and spend the day with your most fun “playmates”