I was raised with sports analogies and a father who could put life’s most challenging moments in the contexts of the games that he loved. And though the time he equated my break-up to getting stuffed in basketball was not my favorite life lesson- I also tend to think this way. So I was wondering if we could take a quick time-out? We are halfway through the third quarter of 2020 and things are not going well for any team.
There are so many serious things that we could talk about during this time-out. From the pandemic and the USPS being messed with to the fast approaching election. But I will leave it to the media and your Twitter feed to raise your heart rate today. During this time-out I would like to talk about play.
Play is a word we use when we talk about our childhood or our children- but when is the last time you got to play? And by play I do not mean just sports. Real playing is about doing an activity for fun. Contrary to the belief of my 12 year old self - not all play has a winner and a loser. People play instruments, watch plays, play Lego's and Marco Polo. Whatever it is, it is only play if you actually enjoy it.
Though playing with my food was discouraged as a child, cooking is now a form of play for me. I get to forget about the world for a few moments and think about something delicious that I want to create. Even baking, gives you the comfort of clear directions and a great excuse to get your hands on some dough (the original "play dough"). Food of our childhood takes on playful nuances in our memories that we then try to recreate for the next generation. I reach for these playful treats when things seem hard and life needs to be lightened up. It is not easy to be sad with a root beer float in your hand or a bag of fruit snacks in your pocket.
I used to think it was selfish to carve out time for my own enjoyment- especially with so much suffering in the world. So I understand your resistance. I found out the hard way, though, that you cannot be helpful to anyone unless you are also taking care of yourself. So if you can’t play for you- play for us.
Going into the fourth quarter of this year we need all of you to be healthy and strong. This can only happen if you steal those moments, however few, and do something small that you actually enjoy. And nope, watching Netflix does not count.
So what food do you think is playful? Is there a dish that you cook for your kids or something you had as a child that brings a smile to your face? How else do you play? And how have you used play to get you through difficult times?