Ponder Play

While working at the sailing beach, I've had extra time to read those books people thought I would like. My friend Michelle recommended a book to me, Play, by Stuart Brown. It has been helpful in understanding my fear of growing up, and helped me to realize it's natural, and even advantageous, to have this fear.





First, humans have the longest childhood out of any species. Since we are brought up with close watch by our parents, we can retain our childishness for the first 20 or so years of our lives and still survive. Furthermore, by keeping our curiosity and eagerness to develop, which we have while we are children, we might be more successful in the long run--

"Since one of the primary hallmarks of being juvenile is the desire and capacity to play, what would happen if our brains kept juvenile elements such as growth and adaptability long past the period of our obvious longed childhoods? What if the maintenance of very useful juvenile qualities in the brain is the secret to success?"






If we use our childish instincts and continue to look for answers throughout life, we will have a grander understanding of the universe. If we refuse to settle down, and reject the all-knowing mindset of maturity, we would have a richer perspective on life, as well as a more lighthearted and enjoyable existence--

"Otters are naturally extremely playful and are always attracted to new and interesting things. Their natural search for novelty and avoidance of boredom leads them to try the task a number of different ways. By having fun and mixing it up, the otters were learning far more about the way their world works than if they had simply performed the initial task flawlessly."







Finally, because I live so youthfully, my heart and body will stay youthful as well--

"Many studies have demonstrated that people who continue to play games, who continue to explore and learn throughout life, are not only much less prone to dementia and other neurological problems, but are also less likely to get heart disease and other afflictions."







So, I guess I'm not crazy after all. Maybe you are?













"It is human to have a long childhood; it is civilized to have an even longer childhood."



























Ponder this...
Every atom in your body came from a star that exploded, and the atoms in your right hand probably came from a different star than your left hand.


[whoa]



Glass- Josh Simpson
Paintings- Raquel Aparicio