First off, how much do you value playfulness? Usually, we think of things like integrity, love, or confidence. We typically desire these types of values in they lives.
If you’re like me, you don’t usually consider playfulness.
To me, playfulness sounds fun, lighthearted, even adventurous. As someone wrote…
“Playfulness means being able to explore and to do things, for the sheer delight of doing them. It means relaxing, being spontaneous, and allowing a situation to carry you where it will.”
In general, I’m not detail oriented, so playfulness sounds fantastic to me. The problem, I think, is that it can also sound superficial, perhaps a little too light. Life’s more real than playful, I think.
Or maybe not. Maybe it doesn’t have to be.
That’s why I added “deep.” Deep to me means grounded, extended below the surface, far inward. It’s a short form of “truly profound.”
So when added to playfulness, it congers up a sort of “seat of emotion” feeling, like down at the motivation level. When I think of playfulness in that context, it’s suddenly appealing. I want that kind of life, the kind where everything’s playful but still meaningful, where I’m not worried or afraid but still not stupid.
So yeah, it’s something I’m playing with (no pun intended). How can you and I add deep playfulness to our lives?
“Deep Playfulness”…intriguing. Your description is ringing in my heart, but I’m not sure I’m fully getting the complete picture. As someone who struggles between introverted control and free spontaneity, this is something I’ll continue to ponder. I think deep playfulness would be a great mode in which to live life. At least it sounds exciting.
Thank you for your comment.
I actually wrote a longer version of this post, trying to hash out more of what I meant by deep playfulness. I realized, though, that I’m still not really sure on it. The words I’m using aren’t doing it justice. Perhaps in the future I’ll return to this theme and write a little more about it.
For now, maybe it’s just a matter of me trying to live it a little bit more before I try to describe it. Let me know if you have any more ideas on it, as you continue to ponder it further.
-Marshall Jones Jr.