I don’t just mean the thing you do with video games1, sports, or music, though those things can be playful.
Play is a mental state of improvisation, experimentation, and whimsy.
It’s when you dump out a box of Lego and start putting together pieces without knowing what you’re gonna make. It’s trying a new marker, paintbrush, or a stick in the sand, making shapes, varying movements, hand position, pressure.
It’s following through on thoughts of “I wonder what happens if I do this…”
Not only is it a whole lot of fun, but I’m convinced it’s the key to creativity. “What if” is how you get to new and exciting places you never could have planned for.
A simple form of play that we all did as kids is doodling. Doodling is just drawing with no goals. I LOVE doodles!
My ultimate inspiration for play, creativity, and doodling is Lynda Barry. Seriously, if you want to be inspired to just start creating, watch some of her talks. This one is a personal favorite of mine. I promise it’s worth an hour of your time.
Footnotes
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Though I do enjoy a good video game from time to time. ↩