I read something that I considered profound about four years ago. It went something like this...
What if, as adults, we aren't supposed to stop playing all the time and start working?
What if, as adults, we're just supposed to play more effectively?
I thought about it for a while. You know, I came into this world with an innate desire to play, imagine, create, love and experience this world with a 'child-like' fascination. Then, somewhere along the way our culture taught me that in order to be a responsible adult, I had to stop playing and start working!
With common phrases like:
"You have to finish your 'work' before you can play."
"Hard 'work' and dedication pays off!"
"'Work' hard for the first 30-40 years then you can enjoy life!"
I got to thinking and I realized something. Something I'm sure some of you have thought as well...
I do not enjoy working!
I know, it's crazy!
I think I'd rather play the rest of my life...
Testing: Anecdotal Evidence in Action
I'm currently testing a theory I have:
Can I play for the rest of my life?
When I got out of the U.S. Marine Corps (military) roughly three and a half years ago, I told myself I wasn't going to work anymore. At the time I rationed that this would be a short-term endeavor as it was childish to think that I could just play for the rest of my life...
Right?
I was seeking a short reprieve from the stress of the Marines and wanted some time off.
(We say things like 'time off' because we have been taught that we owe a debt to the world and that we have to work hard to "make a living", I believe this is unequivocally false...)
I figured it would come to an end sooner rather than later. Fortunately, during my time off (playing) I happened across a great deal of information to help rationalize my dedication to play. As I built on this foundation, I had this startling realization...
What's so wrong with being childish?
What would be the problem if I was childish in my approach to life?
What would happen if I viewed my life with the wide-eyed wonder and limitless imagination of a child?
What would happen if I chose to simply play?
My rational brain needed justification, and fortunately, I found it in the depths of some books on quantum physics suggesting that our thoughts and intentions literally create our reality! This thought was reinforced by countless metaphysical, philosophical, and religious teachings as well.
My mind was satisfied.
So, I kept playing!
Functional play that is...
What I call 'functional play':
An activity that builds on my abilities, and develops some form of capital (stand-by for a post on the 10 forms of capital). It is an activity that I do because I love doing it! Since I love it, I am able to fully engage myself in it, more easily entering into a state of flow to grow my capabilities!
What it's not:
Wasting time. If I'm not fully engrossed, I'm not playing!
In Play I Trust
Knowing that if I played functionally, opportunities would appear that I would be able to build on, and they did! I didn't accept an opportunity unless I felt I would be able to enjoy it, find passion in it, or consider it play.
If a morning ever came where I wasn't excited about the day ahead, I simply didn't pursue the plan I had before!
I just didn't.
At first, I was at odds with my training in the Corps (military), in school and our culture. I was taught that:
"There are just some things that you have to do, whether you like it or not." - Culture
This didn't fit in my life. If I did something I didn't want to do, it was done poorly.
I figured if something was going to be done poorly, why bother doing it?
When I was working, I found that I spent a great deal of time being busy, doing nothing of importance at all! That time would better be utilized doing something properly and passionately! When I started playing again, I found myself with a lot less burnout, or none at all actually!
Ironically, I found once I fully embraced the idea of play, I didn't need to take so many breaks' from creativity. Before this, if I considered an activity work, I constantly made excuses to avoid it. I now find very similar activities (with the same outcomes) to be thoroughly enjoyable!
Privilege or Passion
I realize that this reality may be a bit more difficult to create for some than it is for others, given our current dominant systems proclivity towards inequality!
I'm not sure if this is just my privilege. To my knowledge, I haven't lived the life of anyone else and I don't know if there are some advantages I have, that others simply do not.
If I attempt to make comparisons, my knowledge of others' lives is so limited that the effort is useless.
So, why bother comparing yourself to others, positively or negatively?
So, I didn't bother...
Advantages?
With that, I am not sure how much of a role these advantages may have had...
I have traveled a great deal and have seen this existence lived with many different economic realities. I can live a life of play, freedom, and happiness with $350 dollars in the bank or 1 million. I know this because I have done it (with $350 that is). I know millionaires who feel poor and people bankrupt who feel rich (because they now have no debt).
Faith in Play
I know in my heart, that the source/universe/god/nature (whatever you call it) provides if I but only let it! There had been times where I have come to odds with this philosophy.
Recently I turned down a gig that would have near-guaranteed 70k USD, with 5 months of hard work... I fought back and forth with my Heart and Mind. My mind made some excellent points:
"It's only 5 months! You can get back to playing afterward." - Mind
"Think of how much fun you could have with 70K!! You'd be able to play so much better." - Mind
"It's the responsible thing to do, you could set yourself up for years with that kind of money!!" - Mind
All these arguments were a trap!
I know that if I allow myself to make that 1 exception, then what is to stop me from accepting a few more.
"Hey, the money is good! Keep going, just a bit longer." - Mind
"They offered you 100K+ now, you have to take it!" - Mind
The right answer for me was not so clear. I had initially accepted the offer to go back (the job was in the States and I was in East Asia). I could not sleep properly, my play started to deteriorate as I counted down the days till I was on a plane back. It disrupted my flow, putting off projects as I rationed:
" You won't have time to finish this proposal in just two months, just start it when you get back." - Mind
That's when I needed an intervention. I devoted 3 days to this question (while my partner flew to Hong Kong to meet her Mom, I stayed in Bali) to look deeper and ask my Heart what I should do. I got a hold of some plant medicine and built a quiet place for me. 3 days later, I was searching for homes in Bali and had turned down the offer to go back. The answer was clear, trust in play. I am so glad I did!
"Follow your passion, I know Mind is telling you to worry; but it's going to play-out" - Heart
In Play I Trust
As it stands I have no inclination to stop playing anytime soon! I have concocted several methods to continue to do so for the next foreseeable future. If this little experiment continues to work out, I hope to be able to create an environment where I can help others find this freedom that I believe I have started to find.
When I got out of the Marines I had saved a bit of money that I was planning on using to pursue my life of play. I knew that when it ran out I would be done. Now, after 3.5 years of playing I have more capital (in every way) than I had before! Not a single bit of it was gained through hard work! Most was acquired through dedicated play ;)
This, to me, blows the conventional wisdom of working hard out of the water. The reason I mention this is not to gloat, but I wouldn't have had the courage to pursue this kind of life had it not been for those who had paved the path and shared their experiences. I read a post the other day giving advice to work hard for the next 20 or so years; so that eventually:
"on a Monday if you didn't want to get up and go to work you would have the freedom not to do so." - Terrible advice
I was sad reading that and thinking about how many amazing, wonderful, and talented people had sold thier lives to this idea! I thought about how many of us could have that freedom now!
It all depends on what comforts we are willing to give up, what challenges we are willing to face, and what distances we are willing to traval to obtain that freedom.
Rieki
P.S. I have an opportunity for you! What is one thing in your life that you consider work? Is there another more-playful approach that you can take that would give you them same outcome? Try it out!
Ex: 'I don't like working out. Okay, don't work out... If your goals are fitness, then find an activity that you love that challenges your body. Rock-climbing, dance, sports, martial arts, etc...'
This way you would be much more inclined to follow through and achieve your fitness goals :)
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