Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

Having just stepped out of the Festive Season I can answer this slightly awkward question from Bloganuary. Playing is not built into my daily life. Far too much White Anglo-Saxon Work ethic has leached into my core. The Festive season is a rich and embellished few weeks, where hard work and the gathering of family and friends allows time out to play board games or read books. To go on real and imaginary adventures with small or large people. Playtime perfection some might say.

Having semi-retired from a serious and sensible career to take up a second career as an artist, could be construed as being pretty playful all the time.

How is playful defined or calibrated. Who sets the protocols or parameters on play?

The truth is that I struggle with the words play and playful. But if I could replace the word play with fun then fun is a daily activity both the planned and the serendipitous. Fun appears in the darkest of moments or the least expected places. It can be scheduled or awkward. Bubbling up out of the fun gland when seriousness or professionalism are expected and the correct response. I am an exploder of mirth, sometimes inappropriately. Is that playful or just bad?

I struggle so much with the word I looked it up. At last I could feel some comfort with this topic. The hook-in for me is light-hearted.

I can actually sign up for light hearted, so much easier to live with. Unless of course it is the Festive Season when anything goes.