Don't Forget to Play
#life 2 min.
I bought a groovebox last year because it looked like lots of fun. I know next to nothing about making music.
I got into photography this year. I’m not very good at it, but I enjoy it a lot.
Last week I made a useless PHP package inspired by a random tweet.
I’m writing this post for a blog that gets mayyybe 50 visitors a month.
The end product clearly isn’t the point of any listed activities. Neither are the likes or shares.
The point is to exercise creativity in a low-stakes environment.
The point is to play.
Last year I decided to try more things with fewer expectations. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in a while.
It’s a self-reinforcing cycle too. Give in to your creative impulses, and more will follow. Creativity, just like muscle, responds well to exercise.
Doing something with no end goal in mind isn’t very common in adults, outside of a few activities, like extreme sports or video games. Play is for children; adults can’t waste time like that.
That’s a shame because wasting time can be lots of fun. Every once in a while you might even surprise yourself and come up with something you truly enjoy.
Recall the last time you observed adults play in an unassuming environment. Something like a team-building exercise or parents playing with their child’s legos. After a bit of reluctance, you usually see people’s eyes light up in mere minutes.
It’s too easy to forget that adults need their playtime too.