Lesson #56: Could play be the answer to world peace?
A public sculpture vision
I have a rather fanciful solution for world peace. This involves people from different ‘sides’ coming to a Cloudscape public sculpture space and, stepping into this space of possibility, embracing a child-like sense of curiosity, joy and play and opening up to new perspectives on life.
Perhaps these spaces could sit on territory borders .. Israel & Palestine, Russia & Ukraine .. independent spaces where people can come together in a spirit of play — open, curious, connected, free.
Grown ups are so serious
At some point (during teenage years?) the innocent and carefree child gives way to a more serious experience of life and time for play becomes greatly reduced. Except I did it the other way round.
Why I’m so interested in play
I was way too serious as a child. At way too early an age I took responsibility for how I behaved, for how others behaved, and for how other people perceived me. I was overly self conscious. I didn’t have the light, joyful, playful nature of my younger sister who seemed so naive and vulnerable, but also more relaxed and joyful than me.
It wasn’t until I started to hit puberty that I panicked and wanted to wind back the clock. I wasn’t ready for childhood to end. I suddenly saw that I’d deprived myself of this time of play. I yearned for the lightness and the freedom from responsibility of childhood. In my determination to not ‘grow up’ I did what was in my control to do. I stopped time. I delayed puberty by becoming anorexic.
What gets in the way of play?
In the Audible ‘book’ by Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability, Brene states:
The wholehearted absolutely cultivate rest and play. They rest more than the rest of us rest and they play more than the rest of us play.
She states that play is an important part of wholehearted living. And what gets in the way of play (and rest) are a variety of shame tapes that say:
- I’m not enough
- I’m not doing enough
- get your work done
- you’re lazy
- perfectionism
- there’s more where that came from
- what will people think
- I need the money
- I haven’t earned it
- exhaustion as a status symbol
- productivity as self worth
Allowing ourself to play therefore can require both self acceptance and an understanding that play isn’t a ‘selfish’ or ‘indulgent’ act, it is part of being a well-rounded person.
What is play?
A simple definition for play is:
Play
(v) engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. (Oxford Languages)
I like this definition. It points to the fun and regenerative qualities of play and the lack of any determined outcome. Play involves being in the moment. Play holds the capacity to shift perspectives, to see things differently, to explore, to let go, to connect.
Play is a natural activity of children and young animals. It is how they learn, experiment and explore. The sight of a puppy playing or a baby exploring it’s world is joyful and mesmerising, as it contains within it the sense of wonder and being in the moment that is our most pure and natural state.
Why is play important to ALL people?
Children and young animals are in a state of massive learning and growth. They are testing limits and exploring possibilities in order to find their way in the world. But growth is important at all ages. Play can be a great way to stretch ourselves while having fun.
Could play be the answer to world peace?
A miracle is a shift in perception — A Course in Miracles
I see the biggest threat to the world as being disconnection.
Thus, I see hope for the world in finding ways for us to connect — with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
Cloudscape is my vision for making this happen. With Cloudscape people can come together to experience a sense of connection and to open up to new ways of looking at and experiencing the world.
If nothing else, these spaces can bring a sense of hope and joy.
I will continue to pursue fanciful vision. And who knows .. maybe it’s not so fanciful after all.
