Playing with the Misconceptions

Childish.  How did that ever come to be a dirty word?  To be like a child isn't a bad thing.  

Most adults would love to get back some of the enthusiasm, happiness and carefree feeling they had as a child.  

But what children do, you're not supposed to:  play.

You can be accused of playing, like it's a crime.  And you're supposed to feel humiliated.  Belittled.  Less than.  And you're supposed to stop doing it right away.  Stop doing it for good.  And then stop other people you see doing it from doing it.  Only certain types of grown-up fun are acceptable now, and it's a pretty short list, many of which are things that are also – and actually – bad for you.  


And then we wonder why we're so tired, and unhappy and bitter.  Why so much of the joy has been sucked out of life and our days can feel so monotonous and unsatisfying.  A lot of adult 'play' is really more about drowning out dissatisfaction than doing something we enjoy.  

Play is one way we learn – by trying new things and experimenting, by using our imagination and being creative.  Different parts of our mind are engaged and active, there's endless variety and change, we get a break from over-thinking and worries, and we get all this while doing something we like, smiling, laughing and having a good time.

What a horrendous crime you'd be committing by having some innocent fun!