At what point do we start to lose curiosity and that sense of play?
I’ve noticed this in myself more and more lately and it scares the shit out of me. So this is a reminder for myself and to anyone who might need to hear this: It's time we start taking play a little more seriously (and ourselves a little less seriously.)
In a world that prioritizes work capacity, how can we shift perspective and (re)build our play capacity?
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READ, WATCH, LISTEN ⤵
READ: Humility Kills Pride
(Reading Time: ~2-3 minutes)
Stoicism can be a wonderful tool for mitigating ego; the first step to re-embracing our play states.
“Part of what Marcus [Aurelius] was actively fighting was conceit and pride. The problem with pride is that it blunts the instrument we need most—our mind. Our ability to learn, to adapt, to be flexible, to build relationships, all of this is dulled by pride. As Epictetus put it, ‘It is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.’”
WATCH: Which Games Do You Play To Stay Young?
(Length: 7 minutes)
“We play games - together. Change roles. Change partners. Diversity brings immunity. Try. Work. Study. Cook. Observe. Struggle. Play. Imagine. No preferences - work with what you have and who you are. Go outside your comfort zone - see what happens. Life is a shit storm - expose yourself to difficulty to learn to weather it…. Adapt, but do not lose sight of yourself. You are different to me. Your practice is different from mine - live your own dreams. Observe. Practice - do not look for any special mode or mental state. Move the goalposts. Stay alert. Do not sleep. Physics. Anatomy. Chemistry. Curiosity. Adaptability. Adaptability and creativity above all. TRY.”
READ: Rediscovering Play
(Reading time: 3-4 minutes)
A great read prompting us to find different ways to break up the structure of training with more elements of play.
“Remember first and foremost that you are a person, not a robot. Grant yourself permission to free yourself from the page. Pay attention to what’s happening. Reunite your brain and body. Ask and answer. Compose without judgment. Adjust and adapt. Think something up and make it real. There’s really no need to be so serious all of the time. Fold in the whimsy. Chip away at the structure and replace it with self-directed freedom. Redefine your practice and you’ll come closer to recognizing your own authority when creating it. Once you realize all that you are capable of, the results you once sought will seem silly by comparison.”
AESTHETICALLY PLEASING 👀
BEAUTIFUL DANCERS by Sebastian Curi.
Playful, quirky, and colorful illustrations that caught my eye.
TINY INSIGHT 🧠
Pride kills play.
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To Defending Playtime,
Galo Alfredo Naranjo
PS. Check out what a game of tag looks like at a competitive level.