Stuart Brown wrote the book on Play… literally.
Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown
“When we play, we are engaged in the purest expression of our humanity, the truest expression of our individuality… we feel most alive…” ~ Stuart Brown
Play is a profound biological process that promotes survival by making us adaptable, creative, and innovative.
What do we know about play?
- intensely pleasurable
- energizes and enlivens
- eases our burdens
- renews our sense of optimism
- opens us to new possibilities
I walked into a workshop. One of my friends was chatting with someone at the doorway, blocking it. He did not see me behind him, so I waited for a few minutes since there was no rush. They seemed to be in an intense conversation, and the workshop was not starting for another 10 minutes. When his conversation lulled, but he was still blocking the way, I gave him a big bear hug from behind. (I knew him well enough to do this.)
“You just made my day,” he said, “I didn’t know you have a playful side.”
I’m the current Festival Director for the Florida Storytelling Festival. In most of our interactions, I’m planning or making sure that everything is running smoothly. He had only seen my serious side! The event was going well, and I could finally relax and be playful.
An “attitude of play” helps us enjoy life more, connect to friends, and avoid burnout.
In a culture of productivity and work, people don’t take “play” seriously. Yes, I get the paradox in those words. Sometimes we have to “work” at learning to “play.” In 2019, Deb Jewett and I created a workshop called “Rediscovering Play” to explore this concept and teach people how to access the “play” button or even the “replay” button. Our next workshop is coming up in May 15 – 18, 2025. It might not sound like a serious workshop, but play is serious work in a culture that tends towards burnout.
Do something playful today! Take a 15-minute break out of your day to do something that you enjoy. Relax and let yourself enjoy it without guilt or shame. Notice how you feel when you enjoy doing something and let that feeling be a part of your day.
Resources
- RediscoveringPlay.com with Deb Jewett and Dr. Joel Ying, next workshop May 15 – 18, 2025
- Read the book – Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown
- Watch the TED Talk, Play is more than fun by Stuart Brown