Class 6 ~ BE Playful ~ and some books to help you do it

Through play, children learn about the world and how to interact with it and each other. By the time you’re grown up, you’re supposed to know all that stuff and be taking things seriously. But there are lots of reasons why play is good for you, even as an adult. My first awareness of this is when I read about Norman Cousins, whose book Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient chronicled his use of comic films and TV shows to help him deal with pain during severe illness.

Here are some of my own observations about how play has been beneficial in my life:

• When I’m playing, particularly with other people, I’m usually laughing and laughter is good for many reasons: it’s said to decrease stress hormones (like cortisol) and stimulates your immune system and other organs.
• Play and laughter are ways of staying in the present moment, which can take your mind off worries both past and future. I’ve also found that playing lessens my awareness of physical pain and the passage of time.
• Play helps me learn ~ without even trying. I think brains are built to make sense out of things, and I’ve often “gotten better” at things while playing without being aware of learning.
• Playing with other people can be a healthy way to connect. Lately, I’ve been thinking that CONNECTION might be the medicine we’re all looking for, but aren’t sure how to find.

Think about the last time you “played”. Write in your journal about what insights and benefits you experienced from engaging in play. Here's your first handout page: 

I also brought to class some of my favourite books that encourage play for adults (or anyone, really). We passed them around and had a nice chat about the importance of play. I was very happy to see that several people responded as positively to these books as I have. I hope you take the time to seek some of these out and have a bit of an explore on the fun side of life ...

Wreck This Journal and How to be an Explorer of the Worldboth by Keri Smith.
She has many others books in a similar style, but these two are my favourites so far.
She also has an app called: This is Not an App

For the more adventurous: This Book Will Change Your Life by Ben Carey. Something new and interesting to think about (and do) every day of the year. Or any year. Although my copy is for 2004, there are other versions available for other years and all of them could be used any year.

Meant to be used by graphic designers, I found Creative Sparks by Jim Krause
got me thinking and seeing the world in new ways, even if art wasn't a goal. In addition to
the bright colours (and bright ideas), this book's small size makes it very portable as well.

Joy Sikorski's How to Draw a Cup of Coffee is a fun little book that
toys with history, philosophy and design with a very playful hands-on
approach that gets you taking out a pencil before you know it.

Once upon a time, I worked for a largish company (nothing like as large the companymentioned in this book), but Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie came alongjust at the perfect time to remind me that although we all think we want to be inthe middle of decision making, there is more freedom to create from the fringes.

Definitely aimed at artists and writers, Nick Bantock's The Trickster's Hat
is full of creative exercises ranging from 2 minutes to several hours,
all aimed at getting you writing, collaging and thinking in new ways. 

And here are all the books summarised on one page for you to put in your journal, as well as a little fun thing my brother wrote about going out fearlessly into the world. Well, if not fearlessly, at least well prepared ...