The Lost Art of Play

It’s summer in the part of the world I live in. Summer in Greece is almost synonym to the sea. As a kid and teenager, I grew up with (or in) the sea; spending hours snorkeling, floating or playing with the waves. 

The taste of salt. The breeze on my hair. The sound of the waves. It has been with me ever since… There was a sense of sheer freedom, joy and exploration - important values of mine, as I came to rediscover years after.

I used to love waves; the stronger the wind, the bigger the waves, the more fun we had with my friends. My parents rarely shared my enthusiasm and would often call me out to the safety of the beach… We would argue, yell, cry and so on and so forth.

As the years passed by, my love for the rough seas slowly calmed down. Rarely do I intentionally seek to *play* with the waves. Yet whenever I still do there is pure joy.

Playing with the waves is also a great metaphor for how we approach life’s challenges, an opportunity for reflection: 

Discomfort is not the same as unsafety. My parents cared and wanted to keep me safe. Yet, as we slowly grow the capacity to feel safe under our skin, we become able to take conscious risks, be with discomfort, while having fun.

Play is important and so underrated, especially in adulthood. As kids we learn from playing, yet growing up this often gets forgotten or piled under layers of responsibilities and social norms. 

Play is also the salt in any creative process. Julia Cameron, author of the Artist’s Way, notes:

“Enthusiasm (from the Greek, “εν θεώ” = "filled with God") is an ongoing energy supply tapped into the flow of life itself. Enthusiasm is grounded in play, not work. Far from being a brain-numbed soldier, our artist is actually our child within, our inner playmate. As with all playmates, it is joy, not duty, that makes for a lasting bond.”

So, I wonder:

What stops you from playing?

What brings you joy?

What if working could feel more like playing?

Here is my invitation to you for August:

Make space to come back to whatever brings you pure joy, energy, enthusiasm!

Make space to play. Whether creating castles in the sand, painting pebbles or you name it.

Make space to rest, embrace -and learn from- the restorative power of nature, wherever you are. Rest lets you create. Let that sink in…

… and then reach out. I will be here - after a summer break - to play with the waves of your discomfort in a safe way.