The Place For Play

Taking fun seriously

I know yoga is good for me. We all have to work on balance, strength and mobility, both physically and mentally, and it helps.

I know all that, but getting myself to practice is like tricking a child into eating vegetables. I know I feel great after class, but my mind really resists this practice until I am fully in the flow. I’ve been taking a yoga class regularly for over a year. It hasn’t gotten easier to get to the mat. I always have to give myself a little pep talk; a little "I won't make you work hard unless you want to." It’s my coping mechanism to calm my inner dissident. Then I almost always find that once I’m moving, I like it and I do want to push and see where my edges are.

For whatever reason, I can't handle that before I start. This morning I was repeating that familiar “you’re off the hook” line and a little voice popped up with a new question. “What if I play?” Instead of reminding myself of all the things I don't have to do if I don't want to, what if I flipped that puppy over and rubbed it's belly instead? What if my intention for the practice is just that I play?

I went with it, and it was a magic yoga practice with sparkles and glitter just because I asked it to be.

Play With It- a new sketch collaboration between me and my son Bear.

I’m a musician. I like to play. I’m good at it. By luck and my rebel streak, I have not grown up, and a state of play is pretty easily accessible for me. That being said, I don't always use it, even though it's right there in my pocket.

There’s a lot of research on the importance of play. We know it’s essential for children's development, and that adults need it too. Not just a sprinkle here and there, but in copious amounts. It’s one of our basic mammalian emotional systems. When we play, our brains light up deep in our ancient midbrain. When adults don't get enough play, they’re vulnerable to things like burnout, anxiety and depression. Fun is not just for fun. We really need it. It keeps us healthy.

I always feel like I need to temper any discussion about fun, delight and joy with a disclaimer that yeah, I KNOW the world is heavy. I KNOW grief is just so hard to heal and there is too much of it, and when we’re in the middle of it we don’t want to hear “set an intention to play more.” BUT…If you’re not the one in the middle of grief right now, and you’re able to play and make your brain happy, then you’re able to be there for the people who are in the thick of it. If you’re the one who’s able to flex your play muscles, you will make other people’s lives lighter. We’re biologically social animals. What we do for ourselves we do for others.

We can just decide to play more. It doesn’t mean you have to squeeze in juggling practice or a soccer league, although both those things sound great. Our intentions have power, and just setting an intention to play more as we move through our days can be like amping up the saturation on your photographs. It’s not the activity- it’s the state of mind. We can do all the same things, but the color can be brighter.

One of my favorite quotes is Wendell Berry's "Be joyful because it is humanly possible". Joy can be a front door kind of word. PLAY is the screen door to the kitchen, and more often than not, it’s open. So let’s maybe try out “Be playful because it’s humanly possible” and see what happens.

I’m trying to keep the question "Can I make this playful?" on the tip of my tongue. It seems just ASKING helps me tap into that part of me that’s more easily wonder struck and delighted. Even just ASKING it brings out the Jes who’s a little more creative, a little more mischievous, and also maybe a little more brave. I like her. She’s the kid I want to play with.

Here’s Sam’s Song. I wrote this one for my niece and all of us who are trying our best to keep our days playful.

HEY UPPER VALLEY! I’ll be at Imagine Zero Fest coming up in September, and it’s going to be great! Get your tickets! I don’t want you to miss out!