It has been about two years since I first heard about the importance of play as an adult. I stumbled across a podcast where a psychiatrist was being interviewed on how to maintain a healthy mental state as we age. He remarked on the importance of allowing oneself the space and freedom for play.

Something as adults so difficult to do, yet as children it came so effortlessly. Time for idle exploration, daydreaming, creativity and imagination. Play is a way to give pause to life and readjust our vision of what truly requires our attention and what values have the most weight.

The whole concept of giving yourself grace to play as an adult resonated with me. Oddly it seemed after that podcast, I repeatedly, over the next few months, came across the idea of play in books, articles conversations etc. It seems the concept and its importance is not a new one. Intellectuals, writer’s, artists of all kinds have been practicing different versions of play in all sorts of ways for centuries. Possibly without even realizing they were doing so and how essential it is to maintain a healthy mental state.

What defines the practice of play seems to be uniquely personal to each individual. For some, it might manifest itself in a hobby, or cooking, crafting, or time outdoors etc. Really it could be anything that allows you to be in a nonjudgemental state and a release from the regimented daily norm.

Over the past few years, I have continued to create art through a fog of mental trauma. There would be times where the work would be quite focused and productive, and others clouded and fall flat. My energy and motivation were being depleted as my mental state shifted towards the process of healing. My desire to create never waned during this time, but I found myself organically including in my day crafts and activities that simply served the purpose of the moment. That were merely fun simple crafts that were not created for show or for monetary reasons but just to relieve anxieties and bring my mind to the present. Most of these little projects were done with my young son and his friends. I could work along side them and absorb their natural ability to mix play with creativity.

I think now after allowing myself a mental pause, I feel quite ready and excited for the next chapter in regard to my artwork. Ready to dive into the creative process that was my saving passion all along. As I move forward to begin a new series of works, I hold close the concept of play that helped me get to this place. Small moments of play help to remind you what the bigger moments are all about.

“It is about allowing ourselves to be distracted, to forget about the mundane aspects of life. Is it about caring and appreciation? Or is it simply just a part of being human? “ Elisabeth Dunker

“Carving out that space for purposelessness is the antidote to the rest of the year.”