A spiritual writer I admire, Regina Brett, wrote “play like you mean it” in her recent blog and it got me thinking about rating my own skills for playfulness. Score yourself, add questions that you think I should add, or just share your thoughts. My email address ends each article.
I’ll rate myself 1-10 on six questions, with 10 being highest.
– How often do you play board games and/or card games? (not at casinos) 10
- Anytime, anywhere, with anyone
– Do you still play outdoor games (not including golf) 6
- Not much, but I still like cornhole and bocce if I’m having a beer
– How often do you say “yes” when your kids or grands want you to swim with them, play tag, hide and seek or watch a movie? 7
- I still enjoy such things but often choose to visit with their parents instead
– Do you still laugh with your spouse/partner, kids or grands 9
- My favorite thing to do – the only reason it’s not a 10 is due to my frequent use of sarcasm which is often funny but not playful (like casino games and golf)
– How often do you read or watch things purely for humor? 6
- The best I do here is watch mindless movies and the videos my friends send me by text, which is some funny stuff, but I need to do more of this
– How do you rate your sense of humor? 10
- I think I’m hilarious but if I am not, I still get an A+ for trying
There is a serious reason for thinking about this element of our lives. In my case, it relates directly to a family issue. Alice, despite all outward appearances, and all three of our 40-something children are intense. The good news, of course, is that we are doing well and prospering for the most part. The bad news, of course, is we all often take life too seriously. All five of us have a very playful side but Alice and Kevin probably use theirs more than the other three of us. We all need to work on it, though, so I’m guessing you do too.
Not long after I returned home 19 years ago, I reconnected with Frank Perry. Frank’s mom and mine were close friends and so we’ve known each other since we were infants, then went to school together for 12 years. He was a good football player and that, along with making a living on his feet, had left him with four joints needing replacement. After years of resisting, he submitted to a long series of operations done over a short period of time. “What made you decide to get it done, Frankie?”, I asked one day. He said, “I gotta be able to get down on the floor to play again now that I have grandkids, Timmy”.
Frank still lightens up every room he goes into, a smile and a tease or a funny story always on his lips. I admire him for that, always have. I want to be more like Frank, more playful since my score (48 of 60) is a low B. Lots of room for improvement.
What’s your playfulness score?
Peace,
Tim McCarthy
