This week I’ve been thinking a lot about play. Maybe it’s been longing to be near family, purchasing items for my nieces for the holiday, or feeling cooped up inside due to the recent rain. It could be the pace of life or the fact that my next trip to Seattle is in 18 days (but then again who is counting). When we were little, we had time for play. We read the books we wanted, ran outside, and came in from an afternoon in the backyard for dinner. More than anything, you could frolic around the swing set, in circles among the grass and sun kissed Kentucky hills. More than anything they were no longer grass and swings, but your imagination ran wild. They became horses, castles, and forts. We dared great exploits as kids in the backyard and found new roles and adventure to be had.
When it comes to rest, it’s easy for me to have goals, the need to be productive, or overly responsible. It’s in my nature and routine helps me thrive. At the same time, my heart needs spontaneity. The days where I’m no longer tied to my phone, checking stats, dates, or email. Where I drive into the distance and let it all fade away. When was the last time you embraced the idea of play? Fully and truly. As a kid we set to tasks not worrying about whether or not we were good at something. The next friend’s house had a whole new adventure to explore. We would run, jump, and play, running, drawing, dancing, or climbing off a cabinet we probably weren’t supposed to. (I would dance for hours into a hairbrush and music blaring, while sliding with socket feet on hardwood floors, often forcing the dog to join me, giving him cheerios if he moved to the choreography I wanted him to.)
As a creative, life hasn’t had the rhythms I would like for it to. It has been a lot more work and hustle. Work-life balance feels like the proverbial problem, rather than something simple to solve. But here’s one thing I know. Play is vital. It is the thing that is necessary for inspiration. It’s the thing we read and write about, the melodies to songs that fill our days and that make traffic bearable. Play provides rest and rhythm. I’ve been thinking about the ways I’ve come to play.
Honest moment. Netflix binging and crashing on the couch is a sad excuse for play.
Last week I realized this and a friend and I went and took pictures in the rain. We tried to study at a coffee shop and after two hours of sitting together and chatting, we decided it was time for play. No deep chats, just fun. We drove out of town and into the mountains to a favorite spot. It was cloudy, foggy, and raining. Basically, it was perfect (and a rare commodity for us). Grabbing a blanket out of the car, we took some great photos and got soaked. Running back to the car in the pouring down rain, well it was exhilarating. I can’t remember the last time I chose to play in the rain. It was a day of play, laughter, and being analog even if it was for a brief moment. We played music, enjoyed coffee, and then made chili together. It was exactly what we needed. Play.