Let’s face it, even in normal times winter nights can be long, dark, and boring. Bingeing on social media, Netflix, and junk food are made for the hibernating time of year — more so isolating during a pandemic. But this covid winter I’ve discovered that the time is better spent playing.
Have you ever watched toddlers at play? It’s refreshing. They’re so alive and carefree! Skipping, exploring, squealing, and discovering. Uninhibited. Tiny minds light and bright and wide open, unencumbered by plans, goals, or a reason for doing anything. A state of mind that’s an art, really, and they’re masters. A state of mind that adults could benefit from.
Recently, I’ve had a renewed interest in rock & roll that’s taken me down the road of reading rock star memoirs and biographies and volumes on the history of rock & roll — a good way of passing the long, winter evenings.
I’ve found my greatest inspiration in Debbie Harry’s memoir, Face It. Talk about play! She and her 1970s New York City downtown contemporaries were the kings and queens of play. The punk, DIY nature of the times were driven by the singular desire to create — without direction, without expectations. To simply follow their instincts. Reading her book, I was moved by a subtle stirring to play
So, one night I dragged myself down to the basement, and what started off as a few nights of me kookily belting out my favorite songs and dancing for the sheer joy of it, mysteriously transformed into something unexpected: The discovery of my voice and style. The revelation that I had a voice and style. (Not the kooky part.) I was dumbfounded. What shocked me more than the discovery was the mysterious way in which it happened — just by letting loose. Being silly and feeling free. Play.
So, why is play important during a pandemic? Because in these difficult times of uncertainty, unprecedented stress, and not feeling in control, doing unstructured, unrestrained, positive activities that counter the seriousness and helplessness of the situation helps to relieve stress. Play helps reduce stress that drives overeating and cortisol-triggering of fat-storage around the belly. Makes you laugh — hard. Provides much needed relief. Makes you feel alive, like you can live again. Even makes you feel like a kid again. What’s wrong with that?
What are some ways to play? You can color — outside the lines — with sharpies. Write freeform prose on paper bags. Experiment plunking on musical instruments in new ways. (How Eddie Van Halen invented tapping on the electric guitar.) Skip. (Don’t knock it until you try it!) Put random objects together in a sculpture or arrange cuttings from printed publications into a collage — your method doesn’t have to make sense.
Because it’s play, you can do it anytime and anyplace, spontaneously. Some friends who got caught in the rain, instead of running for shelter, laughed it off and kept walking — and were invigorated!
Play can be anything. Use your imagination. Let your heart and soul — not your mind — lead you.
So, how are you going to play tonight?
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The Simple Seven © Marlene Veltre 2021 All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of Marlene Veltre. The information in this post is to be used for educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice or to prevent, cure, or heal any illness or disease. You should always see your doctor or health practitioner.