Last week I listened to the loveliest, most delightful interview with Dr. Stuart Brown of The National Institute for Play.
(!! Yes, that is apparently a thing. I know!! And a little note to my current clients: When he realizes how much I support him and his playful endeavors and decides that The Institute can’t go another day without hiring me, I will probably go. But I will do what I can to squeeze you guys in. Also, if that doesn’t work out, I am willing to take him on as an adoptive grandfather. Imagine the fun!)
Mmmm, science.
He talked about the importance of play, obviously. And he was so very thoughtful and scientific about it. Highly helpful when you’re trying to convince a bunch of intellectual, achiever-bees that play makes everything better – creativity, connection, productivity, everything.
He explained how playtime engenders empathy, problem solving, resiliency… all kinds of good stuff. We have actually evolved to be playful; we need play as a powerful form of learning and relationship building.
On a non-scientific and random personal note.
I keep thinking about his explanation of the way animals play and roughhouse in the wild. Monkeys and lions and the whole wondrous kingdom. And he said that one thing that differs between wild animals and humans is that the monkeys and lions aren’t competitive when it comes to play.
They will actually handicap their own ability and let their playmates catch up in order to allow the play to continue. And this is maybe probably okay, definitely me oversimplifying and making excuses for my own behavior… But, I couldn’t help but think that we have evolved to root for the underdog.
So that’s why I cannot bear to watch the end of a sporting event. Especially any game where the victory depends on just one person – a goalie or tennis player or whatever. I get so overly empathetic, imagining how sad they’ll be and how they’ll beat themselves up. It slays me entirely. I usually have to leave the room, the stadium, the court.
And now I know why. Because animals evolved to keep the game going for the sake of fun and meaning and growth. Not to beat each other. Not to strip each other of dignity.
Anyway, that’s my new (ridiculously oversimplified) theory. And I am inappropriately hopeful that the sports-fanatical guys I’ve dated get a chance to listen. And to hear this: I am not the crazy one!
Anyway, I recommend listening to the interview – it was fantastic. I had a wheelbarrow full of epiphanies and I plan to listen to it again. Is play something you prioritize? Or is that an oxy moron?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I was just listening to this downhill mogul skier talk about how tough it was skiing with a shin injury, but she just had to push through it. When has pounding away at your injured shins EVER been any kind of a good thing? And it’s like this medal of honor for interviews or something. Like it’s so noble of them to power through. Uggggh.
What really stood out for me was the problem solving bit.
It was a sweet ah-ha! moment for me.
Because if I think about it, when I forget to play I get stuck so much easier. Maybe that’s because I can’t solve whatever comes up as quickly or as easily. Because I’m play deprived.
Now I can build play into the schedule. Because, you know, I don’t want my problem solving skills to get rusty or anything.
How awesome is that?
Thanks for the fabulousness.
I’ll have to listen to the interview – it sounds interesting. After all, if I think about it, it does make sense that it would help with empathy, problem-solving .. all sorts of goodness, just by the nature of it, especially creativity.
I actually think that I need to expand my scope of what play means to me. I have this idea of what it should look like – which I don’t match – but doing things like playing with the camera or singing silly songs to the pup or skipping or taking out the hula hoop .. are really all play too. It can mean lots of different things.
(Btw: don’t you think this post would make a great cover letter to send him!
@Kelly ~ Wow, the morning I wrote this I actually listened to another interview with a doctor who wrote a book called “How Your Body Says No” and he talked about this exact thing – athletes that push through pain all the way into severe injury out of some sense of duty or approval seeking. Of course I’m adding the book to my gigantic queue.
@Fabeku ~ Yes! I think he might have talked about this exact thing. (Although it could have been something else I listened to… a bit of a junkie.) That the first thing you should do when you get stuck is to go play. Love this: “Because, you know, I don’t want my problem solving skills to get rusty or anything.” And I like how it becomes this rational way to trick the productivity monster.
@Elizabeth ~ Oh my gosh, those are glorious examples of play. But I know what you mean about things not fitting the idea you have in your head. It’s like we need a little reminder in that moment to put a frame around the activity and really drink in the experience. A ritual. Hmmm, I’m going to think more about that.
This totally made me think of my little dachshunds and how the older boy will let the little girl bite on his ear or he’ll let her take the rope – so that he can chase her! Very interesting theory, I like it : )