by Mary K. Clark.
Play is especially important. According to Dr. Stuart Brown we need play just like we need to sleep and dream. He writes:
Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.
I love to play and storytelling is a form of play I really enjoy. For me story play can be solitary or social. Story play has helped me through changes big and small, it can make tough things easier. The first story I ever told was about play but I didn’t realize it at the time. It was about my imaginary beagle, “bill” (small b please). Playing with that story helped me engage and conquer some fears and engage in new ways in the world. I’ll tell you a secret, I was over twenty-one when “bill” came into my life. For me this wasn’t child’s play and yet it was.
If you want to know more about play please view Stuart Brown: Why play is vital — no matter your age. He has some ideas about play that you might find of interest.
Do you find story, storytelling, your story work in anyway playful and healing?
– Mary
©Copyright 7/8/2012 by Mary K. Clark. All Rights Reserved.