(Pic #1) Young artists at play, Van Ness Recreation Center, South Central Los Angeles.
Solution for our grand delusions
You now have permission to trash impossible declarations like, “I’m losing 50 pounds this year.” There’s actually a better one. Research shows the pressure and unpredictability of the past two years have left us tense, depressed, and anxious. The solution, according to one Harvard psychologist — is PLAY.
Dr. Natalie Dattilo, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School says, “Adults desperately need to have some fun — and for the sake of our mental health — there’s no time like now.” — Doctor’s orders.
Whether you’re shooting hoops, or throwing clay, Dattilo says play has enormous health benefits, like a pumped up sense of well being:
Mood – Play makes us laugh, releasing endorphins that lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, Dattilo says it has the power to reduce both physical and emotional pain.
Brain health – Play improves memory and nurtures critical thinking.
Inspiration – Play fosters creativity by getting us out of our tired, routine headspace.
For ideas on spontaneous acts of play, I turn to my 6-year-old niece Mickey, who, in this video (below) has stopped showering for a moment to express herself artistically on the glass door. Children do this naturally, unexpectedly, and fearlessly. My resolution this year is to embrace my own 6-year-old self and start kicking some creative ass.
So when I spotted the pure red and black minimalist painting above, I freaked. Kids don’t do that. If there are jars of glitter and glue, they will be emptied. Paints are poured, poured again, and almost nothing is left on the table.