Play.
Why is playing important, no matter your age? As children, we engage in play to learn
about our environment and how to interact with others. This process teaches us critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills. Beyond a certain point of learning, our brains categorize some information as already known, leading us to prioritize and
potentially discard what’s deemed unimportant. This phenomenon illustrates the
principle of “use it or lose it” without continuous practice, we fail to improve the skills we began learning earlier.
In Zen Buddhism, there’s a concept of approaching life with a beginner’s mind. Another favorite saying of mine captures a similar essence: to truly understand something, you must first forget its name. Consider walking through a forest and encountering an unusually colored object on the ground. Your curiosity might spike, driven by a desire to explore its texture or unusual color, because you are genuinely intrigued. However, if a friend had previously dismissed it as uninteresting, their opinion could overshadow your natural curiosity, preventing you from discovering its potential fascination. This scenario parallels life’s broader journey, where new discoveries are often influenced by others’ perceptions of what’s considered “cool” or worthwhile.
So, how does this relate to playing? As we refine our environments and eliminate the
unnecessary in our survival-focused lives, we might convince ourselves that we’re too
busy for play, or fear appearing foolish. Yet, play is inherently free from rights and
wrongs; it exists simply for its own sake. Playing adds complexity to our lives without
consequences, allowing us to experiment with our preferences, expressions, and
interactions safely. Through play, we can explore different aspects of life in a risk-free
environment, fostering resilience, enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and improving our ability to navigate social scenarios. Moreover, relationships forged through play tend to be stronger and more meaningful.
We never truly “grow up”—we simply become bigger, smarter kids. Therefore, I
encourage you to embrace play: reconnect with friends, explore new experiences, and
immerse yourself in unfamiliar environments. The perspective gained from these
adventures can make the world you’ve built for yourself easier to navigate upon your
return, enriching your life with greater resilience, enhanced problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, and improved social navigation. Playing not only strengthens
relationships, especially with those we play with, but also prepares us for a future wherewe are more adaptable, innovative, and connected.
Your future self will thank you for it.
