I wore the wrong outfit to the conference.
Professional conferences always make me feel like I have to fit into one specific mold. I struggle with what to wear—do I dress like myself, or like ‘them?’ On the last day of the conference, I decided to wear what I wanted. I thought it would be enough to feel confident in my outfit, but in reality, in that cold boring hotel ballroom with the ugly carpet and uncomfortable chairs, I felt exposed and not in a good way.
It was a familiar feeling. So, to self-soothe, I began doodling on the hotel stationary. Then later that day, one speaker talked about how doodling—absently drawing without purpose—can be a window to the subconscious. And that doodling is one of few things we as adults (or adolescents even) “allow” ourselves to do without judgment, without purpose. For enjoyment.
Play allows us to see ourselves and the world differently. Play allows us to process and rearrange the puzzle pieces in our own minds. Play reminds us that we can enjoy life and still have fun even when life gets tough. Play creates a safe space for our minds to open up. Play is important.
When you grow up a bit, play is called ‘recreation’ or ‘gaming.’ But both of those things inherently come with constraints or rules. I.e you’re not gaming unless you have a console. You’re not participating in recreating unless you’re canoeing on some pristine lake. (Ok these are the constraints in my own head, but I’m pretty sure you’ve got your own).
How does play influence your life? How can you incorporate more play in your world? Check out more about how to incorporate play into journaling. Please comment below and let me know how play is important (or how you wish it was more important) to you.
