Play Power!

Would you like to avoid the fast-track from fun young hipster to fuddy-duddy old curmudgeon?

If you answered NO to this question, then sadly I did not get to you in time.

But if you answered YES, then come on out and…

PLAY!

Scientists say that nothing lights up the brain like having fun.

What’s more, if people or animals are deprived of play when they are young, their brains shrink up to the size of raisins.

Okay, maybe not actually the size of raisins, but trust me there are brain changes and those changes are not pretty.

Play is especially helpful for folks who work in the arts —

It makes you more flexible and adaptable.

It helps you solve problems.

It makes you grin — and frankly, if you need more evidence than this last point, then you’d better check your curmudgeon-o-meter.

So jump up and down and wiggle around.

Climb something.

Play ball, Frisbee, or spin the bottle.

If you can’t think of a way to play, borrow a boomerang…

Something’s sure to hit you.

Which reminds me —

Wordplay is always a great place to start!

So, think back to the time you didn't want to believe that your college roommate was stealing from his job as a road worker — but when you got home, all the signs were there.

Or puzzle over why some folks think of marriage as a word, while others consider it to be a sentence.

Then play on today!

And be sure to think outside the box...

It’s far too late once you’re in it.

PROMPT: Studies have found that children who are given play time before a creative task, produce more creative results. So today — play first! Unless, of course, your main character happens to be a grumpy old curmudgeon.