Play

“This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” - Alan Watts

What does it mean to play? It’s not a question that comes up often in our day to day life. A distant concept that many of us have forgotten as we move further into adulthood. Yet, it is something in need of reflection more and more in this modern world that we all live in. The daily minutiae can easily envelope one’s psyche and put us in perpetual auto-pilot. A system insidiously designed to ensnare us into a life of habit and protocol leaving our souls devoid of meaning and passion if we let it. However, we are not cogs in a machine; rats in a race. We are beings that have in us an innate desire to vigorously pursue personal challenges under the guise of play. Allow it to come to the surface and embrace it once again just as you once did during childhood. Don’t allow the internal critic to suggest that play is trivial. What might seem to be unimportant on the surface might have deep intrinsic meaning for that individual. Even if there isn’t a deeper purpose, the act of play is analogous to the objective of dancing. The philosopher Alan Watts said that the goal of a dance isn’t to reach a set destination. The enjoyment is in the movement and all the nuances that accompany it. A fitting metaphor on how to approach life itself. Therefore, go and venture out of your comfort zone and explore vast mountain ranges with childlike curiosity. Meander through valleys at your heart’s content. Blaze a trail if there isn’t a path already set before you. Dance under the sea of stars with reckless abandon. You will eventually meet other individuals along the way on a similar path. Welcome them in and share that journey together, embracing all the ups and downs inevitable with any great adventure. Enjoy the time you have with one another, share stories, engage in conversation, and listen to the laughter echo through the air. While this experience can oftentimes be ephemeral in nature, it will quickly become a memory that you will cherish and look back on fondly. All of this is to ultimately be part of the human experience. To play is to be human.