I'd Like to Teach the World to
Play
By Marcia Singer, MSW
“A playmate is anyone, anything
with whom you are alive and light-hearted.
Trust life, express freely, know
you belong, and Play with the Moment.”
-MS
I’ve spent much of my writing life on important
but overlooked or unpopular subjects, but none more perplexing than Play.
Seldom does anybody take the subject "seriously" enough to study,
write about --or publish. At least, not
where adults are concerned. And yet ostensibly, everyone wants more of it
in their lives.
To be more exact, people say they want
more “fun.” Fun and Play are not exactly
equivalent. Play is the greater category, with fun being contained within play,
but not vice versa. Play can be quiet and gentle, loud, boisterous, daring,
pensive, solitary or rousing en masse. "Fun" doesn't describe all of
play's moods, modes and guises.
In any case, our society is at war
with itself about work versus play, equating the former with being responsible
and mature, and play with being irresponsible or frivolous and childish. All
too often play either falls by the wayside or is reduced to frantic efforts at
having fun. “I work hard, and I play hard,” goes the adage.
True play is never hard. It’s the
smoothest, easiest, gentlest and most awesome way to engage in an activity, and
to really connect with another that I’ve experienced. True play, authentic play
is a grace. You and your playmate, your friend have no animosity. There’s
trust, innocence--and power. Resourcefulness.
That’s because play is fearless and open to ideas, movements,
innovation. Play activates creativity. It’s juicy. In a real sense, it’s sexual
too--meaning it’s fiery in a pure, engaging, energy way. It turns you on about
being alive. Most sexual activity lacks
play, sadly, as does every other great arena for passion, because sex
play requires honest connection, intimacy, letting our insides join together,
too. Real play dissolves time and space,
and makes ready friends out of players.
All the more reason to play, to get
everyone learning how to play together. To make peace together out of the joy,
the laughter--even the tears that play brings up in its wake of remembering
what’s been lost.
Yet even I, a so-called expert, often
have to psych myself up to risk initiating play outside the boundaries of my
official playshops. I must risk the intimacy or risk the failure, as if I’m scared
to fail in so sacred an endeavor. (Ever notice that “sacred” and “scared” are
almost the same thought? And “scarred” a
close third?)
I am scarred, weary and gaunt with
hunger for deep play, for high play. For play with my own species. I turn to
the wind, the animals, the rustle of the leaves for playful companionship, and
they immediately Understand. But my human friends so often turn away from the
Presence, the Spontaneity that original play demands...
I envision myself playing for peace. Playing
for Life, playing for Joy, for Healing, for a sense of belonging. Play transforms “be longing” into
“belonging.” It encourages the
personal demons to come out to be included, appreciated, hugged, celebrated.
Play brings out the personal genius in each one of us, and the joy of being
alive. It’s sheer light-hearted freedom of impression and expression, shared
with Other.
I’d like to teach the world to play: I
don’t think this is a frivolous idea.
Rather one whose time is due.
