Let's Play

Water, water and water everywhere. What a spoilsport the monsoon was. The lawn setup for Andy’s birthday party was filled with ankle-deep water. Krish arrived late, dropped off by his mother. He joined his glum-faced fifth-grade classmates, huddled under the doorway where there was cover from the downpour.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Hi Krish.” It was Andy, dressed in a flowing black cape, with a tall hat adorning his head that read ‘Birthday Boy’.

“Happy birthday.” Krish smiled, and hugged his friend.

“Thanks,” Andy replied. “Look at this stupid rain. It’s spoiling the day.”

Krish cast his eyes across the lawn. On one end, a long table was covered with a cloth, which partially concealed some cookies, sandwiches, and cake. Balloons fluttered in the wind, tied to the side of the table. Several bottles of Coke and Sprite lay in a bucket of ice. A cardboard box had triangular, pointy party hats. On a higher table lay two square, black speakers which emanated music, barely audible about the din of the rain crashing down.

“Let’s go home.” Raj, another classmate, said.

“It’s so cold. The lawn is mucky. I wanna go back.” Someone else chimed in.

“We can’t even play Super Mario.” Also on the lawn, was a projector screen and a Nintendo Wii console setup with multiple controllers.

Krish looked across the lawn again. One of the balloons had come loose and floated on the accumulated rain water. An idea struck him. “Come with me.” He grabbed Andy’s hand and scurried onto the lawn.

“Krish, where you going…leave my hand…” Andy protested. Their legs splashed the cold rain water, which seeped into their shoes and socks.

Krish emptied the sodas and ice from the bucket. “Help me lift the bucket.”

Andy scowled. “I’m getting wet...” Reluctantly, he followed Krish’s lead. They each held one side of the bucket and hauled it onto the higher table, in between the speakers, with the open top facing forward.

Krish went to the centre of the lawn, grabbed the stray yellow balloon and threw it to Andy. Andy caught it, and without thinking, threw it back. Krish took it and ran towards the table. He leapt into the air and hurled the balloon into the empty bucket.

“Gooooalll.” Krish yelled and jumped up and down. He ran towards Andy with his hand raised above his hand. Andy reacted and high-fived his buddy.

“Your turn.” Krish said. “Pick me up so I can get the balloon back.”

Andy grabbed his friend’s waist and lifted. Krish stretched his arms forward and fetched the balloon from the bucket. He ran towards the center of the lawn, and threw it to Andy, who held the balloon, and stood there, looking at it.

“C’mon, score a goal.” Krish urged. Andy ran towards the table, jumped up and threw the balloon into the bucket.

“Goaaall…” Krish screamed.

“Yessss….” Andy beamed and punched the air. Krish ran to him and hugged him. They retrieved the balloon once again.

Two more classmates marched onto the lawn and joined in. Then, four more. And five more. Within minutes, the whole class was splashing about in the mucky rain water, passing around a balloon and taking turns throwing it into a bucket. Loud laughter echoed through the lawn. Their shoes turned brown from the mud. Their bodies were drenched in the rain. Their faces were covered with smiles.

“Pass it to me.”

“It’s my turn next.”

“Goaaaall…”

They gathered around the latest goal scorer and hoisted him onto their shoulders. He raised his hands and shouted with delight.

Soon, one of them obtained a stool so that retrieving the balloon would be easier. They elected captains and divided themselves into teams. They passed the balloon to their teammates while the other team tried to catch it along the way.

“Goooaaaal…3-2….we’re winning…”Andy let out a roar.

Krish grinned from ear to ear. “How’s your birthday now? Having fun?”

“Best birthday ever…”

*****


“Every child is born an artist. The problem is remaining an artist when they grow up.”
- Pablo Picasso


Ah, the joys of being a child. Playing a game. Having fun. The play instinct, the instinct to have fun, is the primal driving energy in any human being. It’s the part inside us that makes us come alive. Children are great at it. They are constantly playing, having a blast, laughing. But, adults forget how to do this. They lose the ability to let go and just have fun without any purpose or reason.

This play instinct stokes our imagination. The heart of all creativity is imagination at play. The creative mind plays with objects around it and thereby creates something new.

How often do you let yourself play? How often do you have fun?

There is a child inside all of us. Block some time every week to take your inner child on a play date. During this time, switch off your phone, don’t read the latest news or check your bank account, don’t check your mails or messages or Facebook updates or tweets. Disconnect from the world.

Do anything you feel is fun. Explore anything that intrigues you. Take a walk on the beach; go for a swim; photograph a sunset; paint a mountain scenery; cook an exotic recipe; sing along to your favorite music, even if it’s corny music that no one else respects; dance barefoot to drum beats; make a collage of old photos; sketch a portrait; write a story; go to a temple or church and chant hymns; go on a long drive with no destination. Do whatever your heart tells you to do. There are no rules. Just let yourself have fun.

By doing so, you will fuel your creative imagination and awaken your inner artist-child. Life possibilities will open up for you. Follow your bliss and doors will open where previously there were only walls. Do this regularly and you will experience magic.