Day 133 of 365 - Wanna Play? - Part 2
Perhaps most of us can remember a delightful childhood play experience like my swinging memory. If not, you can certainly remember or imagine the smile that spontaneously appears on the faces of people watching a baby coo and smile, or kittens or puppies playing together.
Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, talks about playing your way to wordless action. This relates to the stretching, enlarging ability and confidence which she says is the underlying motivation of all true play. Some play is just for fun, like jumping on a bed, or rolling around on the ground. But, deep play involves mastering something difficult. Even when we are watching babies, toddlers or young animals play, closer observation shows us that they are learning deeply through their actions and interactions.
Real play, in the sense Beck is speaking about for adults, means picking something hard and pushing your edge. At first it may not be fun. But, when we achieve mastery we are in the state of flow, joy and what she calls present moment wordlessness.
Ancient cultures have used adult play in the form of drumming, dancing, dreaming and storytelling for centuries for many purposes, including healing our bodies and minds. During these activities, our sense perception and intuition are heightened and rest and relax responses will take over.
Beck's suggestions for play include: singing or playing an instrument for the sound and feel of music making; dancing, letting your body follow the rhythm; any physical activity that dissolves verbal attention into pure movement; painting in any medium you like to express your vision of beauty or meaning; storytelling, to convey physical and emotional sensations. All this accesses the right brain, non-verbal intelligence.
Another writer, who epitomizes visual, creative play for me is Susan Kennedy, known as SARK. Her form of expression is exemplified through her playful and colorful books and creative teaching practices. Her books are published from hand printing with colorful markers, kind of in the way a child might make a book. There are various quirky drawings, also in a variety of colors throughout. But, her messages are serious and playful at the same time.
SARK developed a method for herself called Micro Movement Wheels, which she then shared in her teaching and writing. She uses the symbol of a wheel, drawn in a playful way, as a visual reminder of some task or goal we want to accomplish. The premise behind it is that 'we do things much more easily when we are delighted. Tiny movements of 5 seconds to 5 minutes add up to huge results. It's like an ignition system.'
If you want to try a Micro Movement practice for yourself, draw a colorful circle divided by spokes in other colors and a smaller circle in the middle. In the center, write something that delights you, that you want to make real. Then choose micromovements which are written between the spokes. These are things that would only take 5 seconds to 5 minutes.
SARK also recommends what she calls Miracle Walks. You go out with no agenda or destination, and say out loud or to yourself, "Miracles, find me now!" Then, see what happens. Awareness practices she suggests for miracle spotting include: putting your hands out and asking; training yourself to see miracles everywhere; allow miracles to come from ordinary situations; being delighted by and appreciative of the miracles.
After reviewing the ideas of all these writers, I realize that there are several activities I engage in which could be considered play. At my NIA dance class, most sessions include short bursts of free dance and there is usually a short period near the end of the session called floor play. Those are both opportunities to enjoy movement for it's own sake. Also, other activities I do, like trying new recipes in cooking could be considered playful, because they stretch my skills and bring me joy. Even my challenging Pilates classes could be considered a form of adult mastery because they certainly push the edge of my skill and the gains I make are very satisfying. My singing classes similarly stretch my skills.
So, go ahead, choose something about which you have been curious, that would stretch you in some way. Find delight in pushing your edge and mastering something new! Your life will expand, no matter your age.
Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, talks about playing your way to wordless action. This relates to the stretching, enlarging ability and confidence which she says is the underlying motivation of all true play. Some play is just for fun, like jumping on a bed, or rolling around on the ground. But, deep play involves mastering something difficult. Even when we are watching babies, toddlers or young animals play, closer observation shows us that they are learning deeply through their actions and interactions.
Real play, in the sense Beck is speaking about for adults, means picking something hard and pushing your edge. At first it may not be fun. But, when we achieve mastery we are in the state of flow, joy and what she calls present moment wordlessness.
Ancient cultures have used adult play in the form of drumming, dancing, dreaming and storytelling for centuries for many purposes, including healing our bodies and minds. During these activities, our sense perception and intuition are heightened and rest and relax responses will take over.
Beck's suggestions for play include: singing or playing an instrument for the sound and feel of music making; dancing, letting your body follow the rhythm; any physical activity that dissolves verbal attention into pure movement; painting in any medium you like to express your vision of beauty or meaning; storytelling, to convey physical and emotional sensations. All this accesses the right brain, non-verbal intelligence.
Another writer, who epitomizes visual, creative play for me is Susan Kennedy, known as SARK. Her form of expression is exemplified through her playful and colorful books and creative teaching practices. Her books are published from hand printing with colorful markers, kind of in the way a child might make a book. There are various quirky drawings, also in a variety of colors throughout. But, her messages are serious and playful at the same time.
SARK developed a method for herself called Micro Movement Wheels, which she then shared in her teaching and writing. She uses the symbol of a wheel, drawn in a playful way, as a visual reminder of some task or goal we want to accomplish. The premise behind it is that 'we do things much more easily when we are delighted. Tiny movements of 5 seconds to 5 minutes add up to huge results. It's like an ignition system.'
If you want to try a Micro Movement practice for yourself, draw a colorful circle divided by spokes in other colors and a smaller circle in the middle. In the center, write something that delights you, that you want to make real. Then choose micromovements which are written between the spokes. These are things that would only take 5 seconds to 5 minutes.
SARK also recommends what she calls Miracle Walks. You go out with no agenda or destination, and say out loud or to yourself, "Miracles, find me now!" Then, see what happens. Awareness practices she suggests for miracle spotting include: putting your hands out and asking; training yourself to see miracles everywhere; allow miracles to come from ordinary situations; being delighted by and appreciative of the miracles.
After reviewing the ideas of all these writers, I realize that there are several activities I engage in which could be considered play. At my NIA dance class, most sessions include short bursts of free dance and there is usually a short period near the end of the session called floor play. Those are both opportunities to enjoy movement for it's own sake. Also, other activities I do, like trying new recipes in cooking could be considered playful, because they stretch my skills and bring me joy. Even my challenging Pilates classes could be considered a form of adult mastery because they certainly push the edge of my skill and the gains I make are very satisfying. My singing classes similarly stretch my skills.
So, go ahead, choose something about which you have been curious, that would stretch you in some way. Find delight in pushing your edge and mastering something new! Your life will expand, no matter your age.
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