Play – It’s Necessary, Could It Be Healing?

by Mary K. Clark.

Play is especially important.  According to Dr. Stuart Brown we need play just like we need to sleep and dream. He writes:

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

I love to play and storytelling is a form of play I really enjoy.  For me story play can be solitary or social.  Story play  has helped me through changes big and small, it can make tough things easier.  The first story I ever told was about play but I didn’t realize it at the time.  It was about my imaginary beagle, “bill” (small b please). Playing with that story helped me engage and conquer some fears  and engage in new ways in the world.  I’ll tell you  a secret, I was over twenty-one when “bill” came into my life.  For me this wasn’t  child’s play and yet it was.

If you want to know more about play please view Stuart Brown:  Why play is vital — no matter your age.  He has some ideas about play that you might find of interest.

 

Do you find story, storytelling, your story work in anyway playful and healing?

– Mary

©Copyright 7/8/2012 by Mary K. Clark.  All Rights Reserved.

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