Playing Together
October 10, 2022 | Vickie Wu
At our fall house retreat this weekend, we built fairy houses out of found natural materials in the courtyard.
Of course, we did many other activities together that invited us into deeper relationships with each other, and to consider how we want to live our values together.
But right in the middle, we were invited to play — to do something with our hands, settle into our bodies, laugh and enjoy whimsy.
We divided into groups to build the houses, and then brought them all together to create a fairy community. One group made a house with a
“relaxation theme” complete with a lounge chair. Another group made a playhouse for adventure. And another built a house between the branches at the base of our Japanese Maple tree — which included bridges and a hammock.
As someone who regularly leans into the enjoyment of childlike things, I am a big proponent of play — or having fun for fun’s sake. In his article “The Importance of Play in Adulthood” on Wanderlust, Michael Forman says:
Play for adults is critical in our stressful go-go-go lives. Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity.
Being an adult is challenging on the best days, so why not take a moment to just let go and have fun? Bonus points if it’s in community.
