So I'm reading a great book for the Jaya Yoga Book Club,"Open to Desire: The Truth about What the Buddha Taught," by Mark Epstein and there is a passage I found particularly poignant about the author observing his young son:
"He was so focused. Play, as the Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget often said, is a child's work."
It just really strongly brought me back to that sensation of being so focused and enthralled in my world of pretend, and honestly, it made me a little sad that I don't get to occupy that world anymore. I think that's part of what I love about theatre, the opportunity to play, to so deeply invest in a world that is not your own. I believe there is actual merit to play, though, beyond just the fun of living in a fantasy world for a little while. Playing gets you in touch with your inner core of joy which I find is sometimes hard to tap into when living the life of a young adult in New York City, which brings me to my next topic- dancing!
I do not dance enough and when I do I'm reminded of how f-ing awesome it is for me. This past weekend I heard the amazing Red Baraat Marching Band at Barbes in Brooklyn and as I was jumping up and down with a packed crowd to the insane beats of the dhol drum, I felt a rush of pure unadulterated joy. I couldn't stop smiling and I felt unbelievably free and present in my body, which again, I don't experience nearly enough. So here's a reminder for us to play and dance just a little bit more. Spring is just around the corner and in this time of severe economic turmoil, it's important to celebrate the little things.
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