Imagine being gifted boxes and boxes of firecrackers, and told you are free to light them to explode. This was my story, along with a few others, just a little while ago. The first cracker was little, and held hesitantly. The impact a fizzle; and, at best a pop. The next one was bigger, and more brazen, with a flash and a bang, to finish off. Before long, we were like little children; placing, lighting and fleeing before they exploded behind. Standing back, we marveled at the light show, and the halo of colors ascending into the sky. I still can not decide if I had more fun lighting them, or standing back and watching them rise. Was I remembering my childhood, or was this adult playing, the first time in a long while?
The adult in me cringed at the sheer scale of frivolity, but the kid in me couldn’t care less. The adult was nervous of damage, the kid didn’t care if there was a mess. This grown up wouldn’t have spent the money, but this kid was glad for the gift.
To be honest, this was the first time I have ever lit up a firecracker. Made possible by an invitation, to a once-a-year event. Thankyou to my family, and Darwin, for celebrating this event. Territory Day, I thank you, it was a time well spent.
…and a deeper lesson about play. When did I lose my way?
Brene Brown – I love her, says wholehearted people – she means adults, know how to play. It’s okay to spend time on things that seem frivolous, because at the end the day, play is at the core of creativity and innovation. She says, “Play—doing things just because they’re fun and not because they’ll help achieve a goal—is vital to human development.”
In part, I lost my way a long time ago, when I prematurely became an adult. This is compounded by a belief that everything I do needs a result. Heck, I grappled with this just today, when someone asked me, what goals have I achieved thus far, this year. There are some things that are just brilliant for the soul, but are difficult to measure. Play is one of those things for those of us who take adulting too serious, that often feels like a waste of time. Kristen Wong encourages, “Play offers a reprieve from the chaos, and it challenges us to connect with a key part of ourselves that gets lost in the responsibilities of adulthood, especially during a crisis.”
When was the last time you played? What indeed would you consider play? I remember as a child, play was riding my bike, swimming for hours, and every now and then, lying on my back in the grass watching the clouds. Sometimes it involved mud, other times flour, and never did it involve counting the hours. If you are like me, you need to revisit play, and add some fun to your stuffy and boring ways. And don’t add this to your list of things to be done. Just do something for fun!
To my friends, and family who have not forgotten how to play, I thank you for your patience and invitation to participate in this way. As Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “It is a happy talent to know how to play.”
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