My one-year-old puppy-in-a-big-dog-body, Cooper, likes to steal stuff. Shoes and socks mostly, but he’s not above nabbing a pair of underwear or a blanket. It’s his invitation to play.
He grabs the contraband, backs up a foot or two so he can maintain eye contact but also have enough of a head start and then dares you to pursue him.
Of course, I tell my young kids not to engage. We don’t want to reinforce the thievery. But sooner or later, Cooper will grab something irresistible and the chase will be on.
My five-year-old son has a more direct invitation to play. “Will you play with me?” Hide-and-seek and trucks being his favorite.
At almost nine-years-old, my daughter’s invitations are more subtle. “Do you want to feel this slime?” And even though my answer is often, “Ewww, no!,” we end up laughing.
Research shows that playing and playfulness is one of the best ways to enliven our spirit. In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown cites the work of psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Stuart Brown, who defines play as activities that are “apparently purposeless.”
But I can’t think of the last time I invited another adult to play. Sure, we go out to dinner and drinks. Or I’ve invited others to go to a baseball game. Or to come and “hang” with me and my young family. Often a spontaneous dance party is the closest thing to an invitation I can recall.
Of course, there is scheduling time to play a sport or a card game. And maybe going on vacation is an invitation to mix things up.
Inevitably, when Cooper steals something and the chase is on, we end up running through the house and yard, jumping over stuff, diving for him, and coming up with playful feints. It’s terrible dog training but it’s an awful lot of fun!
When I play with Cooper and my kids, it loosens up the hard shell I get molded into when I work too much. It greases the joints of my perspective so I don’t take life too seriously. And I often get what NEEDS to done in a much more creative and joyful way. Everything just feels more fluid.
Have you invited anyone to play lately?
(featured photo from Pexels)
For a different take on how to enliven our spirits, check out The Best Kept Secrets are Boring on my personal blog.
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“It greases the joints of my perspective so I don’t take life too seriously” — so true, so true! Your post makes me doubly grateful for the “community puppy” owned by a friend and shared by many mommy’s. Such a blessing—the many mommy’s don’t have to pay vet or grooming bills—an added bonus! Love Cooper and his antics!
I love the idea of your shared dog. It’s so good! Always a bonus to see you, dear Julia!
I love this, Wynne. You make such a great point about the ways in which we play, and invite play, as well as how rare it is for adults to pursue “apparently purposeless” fun with friends. I’m not invited anyone to play lately, but this is just nudge I need to do so. 😊
Ah, Cooper is glad he gave you a nudge! 🙂
Another good way to get the joint going at the seniors centre.
Love your response, Kevin!
I love Erin and Julia’s comments…three cheers for play! And to Cooper for leading the way. 🥰
Cooper’s just that kind of generous dog… 🙂 Thanks, dear friend!
Isn’t he, though???!!! 🥰
We have had a couple playdates with other couples. One couple invited us to play bocci ball. We played a handheld electronic word game called Catchphrase with our neighbors. We had so much fun. Our kids would play Catchphrase with their teammates at swim meets. I need more playtime in my life.
Those sound like so much fun, Elizabeth! The cabin we rent has a lot of games – it’s a great inspiration to play!
I love it when places we rent have games. We actually will take time to play them. At home our games sit in a closet.
It reminds me when my cat hides in some new places, that we would never think of. It’s not playing but when we find him it’s fun because he looks at us with a question mark, something like, I have been here for a while and you haven’t seen me hihihihi…
Ha, ha, ha – that’s so good!
You give a great encouragement to play, and for the benefits of it! For our family, board games have been an enduring enjoyment. A couple weeks ago, we played Scrabble and had fun. As for Cooper, he sounds very enticing with his invitations for playful chasing! 🌞
Oh, I love Scrabble, Dave! I love that your family plays together — but am not surprised at all! It’s evident in your writing!
You’ve got it Wynne. “But I can’t think of the last time I invited another adult to play.” Reason #514 why kids and dogs are smarter than us Adults. Ha, ha.
OMG – you put it perfectly, Brian! Reason #514! 🙂
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Getting lost in having fun is such an important thing to do! My wife and I like to do silly dances, sometimes at the end of a TV show when the theme tune is playing, and sometimes when there is no music playing at all! Like I think you’re getting at, it really does help us loosen up and remember not to take ourselves too seriously all the time!