Peter ponders play

I have noticed in my extensive life that what is most restoring for human beings appears to be play.  Take banister sliding for instance.  Some banisters are just so inviting.  They are well polished and have this gentle sloping descent.  Just makes a human want to throw a leg over and slide.  I have noticed that children give in to this impulse more frequently than adults.  Perfectly proper parents would never participate in such playful practices as perching their posteriors on the precipice of a banister to propel themselves down the long slope.  When catching their children in this daring activity, I have observed they proceed into an extensive scolding for such scandalous play that they proclaim is both dangerous and inappropriate (especially if in a dress).  I am pondering this scolding and wonder if maybe they are remembering that time long ago when they plunged with full abandon into the joy of the slide and are not secretly wishing they could let go of all those taboos and catch a good banister for themselves.

Playing seems to have an element of abandonment that adds to its joy.  Play is not performing.  There are no expectations or requirements when it comes to play.  One simply plays.  Humans sometimes play well together and sometimes do not, I have noticed.  Observing those times when they play well together, I have witnessed how each person is present to the moment.  They seem to have no distractions or concerns other than what the moment holds.  It appears play provides space for people to engage themselves fully in an activity that takes them fully out of themselves.  Okay, bear speak, humans forget to be so human and become real.  Only play seems to do this.  What makes me sad is that as humans get older they do not play as often.  It seems to require little children to lead them into the lost art of playing.

But, I have noticed there are these grown humans who continue to play.  Their playfulness getting them into pickles occassionally.  Now that is an interesting turn of phrase humans use, getting into a pickle.  Do you get into the pickle itself or just into the liquid that turns you sour?  But then who is sour, the one who got into the pickle or the one who is pickling you?  I think I have just overstuffed myself and before I ferment and become pickled too, I will can this pickle and move on to those playful grownups. These humans always seem to have a smile upon their face.  Joy seems to be the bounce to their steps.  You never know when they will erupt into a playful moment and take you with them.  I like being around these humans.

As I ponder play I would like to make this pronouncement to the people perusing this page, play daily.  Play with friends, play with children, play with strangers, play alone, play with pets, play with your favorite stuffed companion.  We like to play too!  We were created for many things and play is definitely one of them.  When Preacher Pal and I play, I could purr, but then I would be a cat, not a cat, bear, and my glee and delight erupt in a grin.  Do you see my grin?  Let's play!