This spring, I’ve been (slowly) sprucing up my yard. Luckily, I have a friend in the business. I called up Carol, the owner of Ashe Simpson Nursery and stopped by to take her advice and counsel. I also spoke with another good friend whose taste in art I admire. They both made a great suggestion- a bird bath.
It didn’t take long with my new bird bath for me to notice that birds really love to play. They chase each other, splash each other, and so on for no other reason than to have fun.
The evidence is there that play is good for adults, as well as children. Play is fun, it’s relaxing, it’s good exercise and we need it. It’s also a reprieve from the rational and sometimes stressful, harsh, and overstimulated world. Play, religion, sex, family life, and rituals each play a role in making life tolerable and are healthy endeavors all around, offering us a chance to “escape” in a healthy way. One of my favorite writers, the late Christopher Lasch, was a big proponent of incorporating these activities into our lives in order for us to maintain a healthy and balanced culture.
How can we bring play back? Some suggestions:
*Join a league- bowling, softball, darts, pool, or tennis
*Play with your kids
*Join a dance class, acting class, or volunteer for a play
*Batting cages, driving ranges, or martial arts
*Go for a walk and chat up conversations with random people
