Play is fun. Play is hard. Play is easy. Play is complicated. Play is natural. Play can be taught. Play is vulnerable. Play is what we do. Play is rare. Play is essential. What is play to you?

Play is a topic that many adults have difficulty relating to. Our modern-day, fast- paced culture is so focused on productivity, pace and “purpose” that we forget how to play, or don’t know how to. Susie, my therapy client who is an accomplished engineer, vulnerably asked, “Dianne, can you please teach me to play? I truly have no idea what that might look like.” Susie is not alone.

Dr. Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughn, the authors of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, explain that play facilitates brain development, helps us foster empathy, helps us navigate complex social groups, and is at the core of creativity and innovation. According to the authors, “The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression.” If you are interested in learning more, check out Dr. Brown’s TED talk on play.

What is play? Brown and Vaughn say the concept defies easy definition, in part because we each have such different ideas about what we consider enjoyable. But what is clear is that we seem to be hardwired with a need for play, which extends throughout our lifetimes. Play is evidenced from a tiny infant first cooing and responding to the facial responses of Mom or Dad, to an aged adult with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease choosing to sing nursery rhymes and tenderly care for dolls. Play is for all ages.

What does play look like for you, at this stage of your life? If you’re not sure, allow yourself the chance to dream about it: What would you do sheerly for joy, with no other purpose than to have fun? Or think of how play has evolved through your lifespan: What is your earliest memory of play? Do you have any pics that show you playing as a little girl or little boy? What type of play did you enjoy as a child?

One of my favorite books as a young child was Come Play with Me. The book features various playful images of dogs and cats. Much of the research around play has been from studying animal play – it is truly fascinating. On a daily basis, Sterling, our silver lab, invites us to play. She loves playing with the grandkids, a kind back rub, a toss of the ball, or a jump in the pool.