6 ms·
"To just 'play' in life." I don't think we're incapable of conceiving it, I think this is very much cultural. While we should avoid "playfulness" that comes a
by didibus 9y ago
"To just 'play' in life."
I don't think we're incapable of conceiving it, I think this is very much cultural.
While we should avoid "playfulness" that comes at the expense of the greater good, like kicking a garbage over, or other kind of destructive play. I think its possible for adults to "play", but we'd need to change our culture to allow it.
I'd say a big part of playfulness is about engaging with others in a trustful and open manner. Something I feel our culture makes quite difficult. Going dancing for example is a good form of playfulness, yet is culturally a source of anxiety for most of the western world. To play with other adults makes most of us anxious, how messed up is that!?!
Similarly, to learn and explore as an adult is a source of anxiety, because our culture does not allow adults to be novice at something without judging or ridiculing. As an adult, you feel ashamed to start learning something new from scratch, that's why most people who learn things from scratch as adults do it with activities where they can learn it in secret, by themselves.
Lastly, time is a problem. We've given up our play time as adults, our culture is designed this way. We don't value time to play, we value making more money. People want to be rich, not play more.
I think this is all just cultural, as from where I'm from, these norms are not as strong as where I live now. Where I'm from I know of many more adults who's idea of a perfect life is to just live in a modest house, singing, dancing, playing music, chatting over dinner with good friends and family. To have time for your hobbies, and to just be able to relax and appreciate the passing of time.