The Value of Play

As someone who relishes the joy of lighting sparklers year-round, I’m always looking for opportunities to boost my inventory. Imagine my delight when I discovered a terrific sale at my neighborhood grocery store. Amazed by my good fortune, I went straight to the checkout line, dismissing the original shopping list.

“You know, you can burn your eyes with those things.”

Excuse me? 

“You know, if you don’t dispose of those properly, when left behind, the burned sticks can hurt people, even pets.”

Don’t we love unsolicited advice in the grocery store line? With every word, she moved closer, dismissing those social distancing lessons learned during the pandemic. Fairly quickly, I took somewhat of a defensive posture, clutching the boxes to my chest. As I told Lynn, “This lady was trying to take away my sparklers, take away my fun.” Of course she shared my outrage! 

And with that introduction, Lynn and I began to explore the value of play in our lives during episode three of our podcast. 

I explained to Lynn that having sparklers on hand gave me a reason to slow down and break with the routine. “As I move them around, making shapes, I marvel at their light.”  At the end of a long day, this brief, playful moment lifts my spirit and lightens my load.

Why year-round? This habit has developed more recently after living in a small downtown apartment in Indianapolis. Bubbles and sparklers transformed a rectangular concrete slab into a place of lighthearted wonder.

Lynn knows that my quest for fun has been an intentional decision. I grew up in a home that was not fun. I don’t mean the laugh-a-moment fun, but more of an environment where play and discovery were encouraged. I’ve had to cultivate that aspect of my life. 

Lynn grew up on a classic midwestern farm that produces bountiful corn and bean harvests. I’ve seen it myself and it’s lovely. But as a kid, she confesses, “I found it kinda boring.” 

“We had to make our own fun. It might have meant attaching playing cards to the spokes on our bicycles.”

That lesson of finding-stuff-and-figuring-out-a-creative-purpose-for-it continues to inspire her today. “I can look at a brown paper bag and consider cutting out snowflakes that I can hang in my windows.” Also lovely. She has a keen eye. 

Lynn reminds me that sometimes you don’t even need stuff. Joy can be found by simply going outdoors, and when you live in the northern weather region, seasonal allowances can be made. “We take cold weather hikes, which aren’t as long as those in the summertime, but it’s enough to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the crisp, white beauty of a snowfall,” said Lynn. Their beloved dog Poppy takes delight in romping in the snow which in turn delights her owners!

Our conversation found its way to yet another benefit of play. Planned with intention, organized games can bring people together, as I’ve witnessed over countless Thanksgiving gatherings where my husband and I are charged with bringing the fun. When you have an inner generational group as large as 30, we’ve learned that games allow people who have nothing in common to work together, and in doing so, recognize qualities and skills that might be overlooked in classic conversations about weather, school, and vacation plans. One example is organizing teams for building floats  - using shoe boxes - to coincide with viewing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.

A source of fun shared by the Peisker and Schneider families over the years was the  building of gingerbread houses. We were rookies when we first started, but didn’t know it. The collective Schneisker crew took great delight in first lining small milk cartons with graham crackers, later accessorizing with an assortment of candies. The next year, Lynn’s engineer husband got a hold of a serrated knife and started designing everything from delicate architectural features to adorable farm animals. (Picture pastoral sheep made from small marshmallows and pretzel sticks!) This madness grew up with our kids, spanning more than twenty years. What started as something to fill time became a beloved tradition that offers treasured memories. 

Another treasured friendship memory found its inspiration in Kitty Hawk, North Caroline. When we recorded this conversation for the podcast, we were beginning to reflect on the early days of the pandemic, when we were trying everything we had to moderate the seriousness of the isolation. It was during this window of time that I ordered a kite for Lynn and it was well received. 

“Man, flying kites is underrated. It’s a delightful way to lose track of your worries and cares,” encourages Lynn. “And to look up which is a positive thing. To notice color in the sky.”

A final word? Get out there and have some fun! And when you do fly a kite, “Be careful around the power lines. LIke your lady in the grocery store, we want to be safe.”

A POINT OF GRATITUDE

For nearly thirty years, we have shared the pursuit of finding JOY in the routine! We give thanks for being able to support each other’s endeavors (aka parties-of-all-kinds and other hair brained schemes), as well as invest in building traditions for our families, such as making gingerbread houses. While solo activities can be fun and nourishing, sharing a good time with others is a gift never to be taken for granted.

If you’re looking for a sign…

During a recent trip to Tucson, my husband spotted this word of wisdom on a side street between two businesses. While most activities benefit from a measured approach, finding meaningful ways to play for the sake of joy is often discounted or ignored.

If you would like to be more proactive in this aspect of your self care, don’t miss Lynn’s story about flying a kite!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

What’s your reaction to Mary Poppins advice, ““In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and ‘snap’, the job’s a game.”

Do you recognize the role of play in your self-care?

What is a childlike activity that makes you smile? And can you do that in the next 10 days? Why or why not?