Go Play!

Kids are naturally curious as well as creative. They haven’t learned anything about what typically goes where quite yet, although they are fast to do so. So instead of having minds like ours that say, “Round pegs go in round holes,” they try to force the square ones in. But hey, who knows? They might succeed, right? The thing is, they are discovering the world, one small step at a time.

We can take lessons from little kids, to enhance our creative skills if you will.

Put on some instrumental music and play.

Go somewhere new and discover.

See and feel things as if for the first time.

Let your inner child come out and play.

In fact, go to an actual playground. Head for the swings and get going. Soar through the air and feel your hair blow back and forth. Go higher and higher until you think you might just be able to go all the way around. WEEEEEEE! Do you remember doing this as a kid? I do! And I loved it!

I seem to remember thinking up all kinds of fun and make-believe while I was flying on the swing set.

We can and should play.

Get some paints out and play with the various colors. Feel them with your fingertips and even your whole hand, not just the paintbrush. Spread them around and mix them. Experience color.

What else can you think of doing while you play? Did you used to be fond of pretending? Well, do it again! Who’s stopping you? You could go out and spend an entire day dressed like a spy and speak to everyone in a thick, foreign accent. Or, you could disguise yourself and go amongst friends and see if they recognize you. Have fun with it. I dare you! Then write about it when you get home.

The thing with play is this: First off, as creative people, we really should take time to play. It will enhance our minds and imaginations. Another great reason is that it’s just good therapy. Actually, I know of a friend who had a pretty horrific childhood in which she had to grow up fast, missing the innocent child experience. Her therapist had her do play therapy, from swinging in the park to sand play and more. Just being a kid with no responsibilities was important to her emotional development. And I’ll add that it is vital to our creative development.

Just the other day, I heard a webcast in which an expert on wellbeing from Duke University (J. Bryan Sexton, PhD.) stated that we should regularly take “awe” walks in which we simply go out and find things that give us a sense of wonder and amazement.

Even as adults, we should play.

Me? I am getting my disguise ready. And, oh, I can do a great British accent!