Let Us Never Forget To Play

Play is one of the most underutilized systems in our adult self.

The late, great Jaak Panksepp, in his years of animal research at Washington State University veterinary school, identified play as being one of the main ways humans can access the brain circuitry of joy.

Play requires us to feel safe and comfortable as well as excited for novelty. It isn't just for children.

He says, "The function of play is to build pro-social brains that know how to interact with one another in positive ways." As we move out of pandemic life, learning how to interact with one another positively seems like a great place to land.

I invite you to try new things.

I hope the outdoors infuse adventure within you.

May you grab comrades to join you. I hope you jump in and try new things for the sake of novelty and pleasure rather than having the destination in mind.

I invite you, as well, to catch the colors at sunset. They change throughout the year, impacted by the angle of the sun as well as the air particles.

Enjoy the leaves as they change from dark green to yellow, orange, or red before they drop to the ground, only to be replaced by green ones again in the spring.

Watch for rare events within our solar system, and even outside of it.

Be well and alert for the awe.