The Need to Play

Does this feel like you?

You find an activity that playful, that’s fun, that serves no apparent purpose other than to be a joy.

Then you don’t do it because it isn’t producing anything.  No income stream.  No value.  No result you can point to at the end and say, “See?  I did this and it’s worthwhile.”

Why is it that adults have a hard time recognizing the importance of play?

Rosanne Bane (Around the Writer’s Block) calls this ‘Process’.  It’s where we do something, usually artistic but not necessarily so, that unlocks the brain with fun.  She says, “Process is about letting go of the demand that we need to always be Doing Something Significant.”  (p. 46-47)

Boy, it that ME!

I can’t remember the last time I engaged in something that didn’t have an assigned significance.  I write – to produce a product.  I edit – to polish said product.  I publish the product – to make money.  I market and promote – to point people to the product.  I take on freelancing projects – to supplement my writing income.

But where’s the play?

I’m going to try a little experiment.  Over the next few weeks, I am setting time aside to PLAY each day.  (If I don’t put it on the calendar, I know what will happen.  I’ll put something that DOES SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT over it.)  I’m not sure what I’ll do.

I like to crochet, so there’s that.  I have a mandala afghan in process.

I’d like to play with paints.  I might experiment with the extensive art set Dear Hubby gave me for Christmas years ago.  I’ve never dug into it.

I have a new camera, a smaller model I bought to avoid lugging the monster on an upcoming trip.  Maybe I’ll take photos for no reason other than they’re in front of my lens.

I’m going to make time for play.  Who’s with me?

Paying It Forward:  If you’re a creative of any kind (or have a struggle solving your resistance to almost any kind of activity, including exercise) I highly recommend Around the Writer’s Block by Rosanne Bane (http://www.rosannebane.com/).  While she focuses her recommendations on writers, I bounced them off an artist friend of mine and she immediately related.  And I’m using it for exercise too, the bane (no pun intended) of my existence.

If you’ve read the book, I’d love to hear your take on it!

How do you make time (or give yourself permission) for play?  Please share your thoughts in the comments!