Getting back into our book we are reviewing, ” The  Virtues We Need Again” by Mitchell Kalpakgian,  we will be looking at chapter 5 on Playfulness.

Why is playfulness considered a virtue of today?  Well, living in the 21st century has  many positive aspects, it also has many downfalls.  We have the avaibility to work anywhere and everywhere, connect like no century could before us. However, this ability to work whenever and wherever has left us with the constant stress and depression. Americans are known for working the most hours of any nation. We don’t take vacations, we don’t take any time off of our work. This is why playfulness needs to be revived. We need to be open like children who have the ability to explore the world around them with carefree curiosity.

As the author put it, ” Playful accounts of comic events remind man of his origins in the dust, pierce us when we become puffed up or pompous, and sometimes literally bring us down to earth.” (pg. 53)

We can become too serious with our work, to hard with others and ourselves in reaching our goals and perfections. However, there is a sense that life is too short for too much seriousness. How can we work 60 -70 hours  and still have time left over for our family and friends? It is sad that we have to choose between work or family time.  Work should interwine with our daily living, but somehow it has overcome and overpowered us.  It should be noted that we are in the 21st century, we should have found a way to work less, have more fun, but the opposite is the case.

Perhaps one of the reasons why we don’t have playfulness is because we don’t have children until much later in life. The author makes this comment,” How sad that so many modern men and women are choosing to postpone  or even sacrifice parenthood, that married couples are taught by culture to regard possible pregnancies as a medical side effect  of intercourse, to be manage by any means necessary. In this void created by the absence of children, we take ourselves, our work, our politics, our portfolios too seriously, losing balance and perspective” (pg. 67).

The author goes on to inform what happens when we do these things. ” When we do “regress’ in the absence of playful children. we tend to slip back into adolescence, a time of self-absorption, without innocence, self-assertion without wisdom, We regard ourselves  and our whims with murderous seriousness. Everything offends, everything is a source of harassment, and every small irradiation is a cause for legal action.” (pg. 67).

So how can revive this virtue of playfulness?

Some ways to revive this is to simply look at situations as a child will see it.

1.To have the ability to laugh at oneself and see the comedy of life.

Instead of getting angry over a stupid mistake, just laugh at yourself and move on. We are all human. Funny, silly, stupid mistakes are part of life.  Yes, we have all those moments that we have thought we lost our phone, but are really using it as a flashlight. Just laugh, and realize that there is so much in life to be appreciated.

2. Take one afternoon and devote it to simply having fun with your children.  Imagine events along with them. You will be surprise to find how refreshing this activity is even though it is natural to young children.  If  you don’t have children, take that time to do something considered childish.  This could be playing with play-dough, building  with Legos, something that you always thought you couldn’t do because it was too childish. Now us your imagination to re-imagine worlds you haven’t thought about since childhood.

3. Be carefree. On your day off just take the day as it comes without any schedule. Bear in mind this doesn’t mean to have the freedom to indulge in binge watching Netflix. Playfulness is a physical and mental activity. You cannot do either on a couch.

I hope this review and tips were helpful to you. Now I am going to play a very childish game of cards.

Have a great week,

Alyssa

 

Works cited

Kalpakgian, M. (2012). The virtues we need again: 21 life lessons from the great books of the West. Chestnut Ridge, NY: Crossroad Pub.