Music, Play and Passion

Check out this video of 3-year-old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony.  He really does FEEL THE MUSIC as Jamie Ridler stated in this post where I first saw this video.  Man, does this kid get into it!  Such passion in his play.  (See I'm continuing with this passion theme.)



And here he is in a much shorter video practicing his violin.  My favorite part comes at the end when you can see what must be his little sister "playing" right along with him.



Of course this child has natural, possibly genetic, talent and we all can predict his future vocation will involve music some day.  And it reminds me what Dr. Stuart Brown says in his book, Play, that we are probably happiest in our work as adults if our career involves some form of what we used to play as a child.

And for me, I'm checking out some live music with some friends this weekend.  Can't remember the last time I did that.

A Playful Weekend List

This morning as I ate my eggs and toast made by my darling hubby (DH), I was thinking of all the things I need to do this weekend and feeling a bit of dread. So in the spirit of artsyville's whimsical lists and Alisa Burke's beautiful sketches, I decided to create this list for the rest of my weekend only feeling partially guilty that my DH was cleaning the kitchen while I made it.

Please keep in mind that this is the first time I have attempted such a project. The finished product is definitely not as beautiful as artsville and Alisa's. Silly me. I know not to compare my work with others. It's one of the cardinal rules of creativity. But knowing that I would put the list on my blog and share with others, I am compelled to say that. Oh well.

Back to that dread: the first four items on my list involve some sort of play. And yet, I'm not sure if it's the sure amount of time I know these items will take me, but I'm not feeling that playful. I'm reminded of Stuart Brown explaining in his book, Play, that even play can involve work as I mentioned in this previous post. So I knew I needed a quick attitude change. I am forever wanting to do more art and be creative (for the sheer fun of it) so I put aside the look-at-all-the-things-I-need-to-do-this-weekend attitude and got to work playing by making the list. 

More specifics about each of the items on the list:
1. I loved Eat, Pray, Love the first time time I read it thanks to my Pilates instructor Pamela. (These days I'd rather refer to her as my friend Pamela knowing that I rarely have take the opportunity to attend her class on Mondays at the Y.) I have been suggesting the book for FORM (Fellowship Of the Red-hot Mamas), a group of ladies from my church who gather once a month to eat yummy desserts, chat, pray for others, and discuss a book. Well, be careful what you wish for. We've been reading it the past 3 months and I've been behind the whole time. I think I can post what FORM stands for. It hasn't been a secret for years. The funny thing is that in some ways I have enjoyed the book even more the second time around. Probably because I'm in a different place than I was 3 years ago when I first read it.

M & M, April 2006

2. We've had beautiful 70s-degree weather here in Kentucky this week. Today might very well be the last of this warm weather so I ought to take advantage of it. I absolutely love, love tulips. And as much as I enjoy the season of fall, my favorite time of year is definitely spring. Having spring flowers in my yard makes me insanely happy, not to mention my favorite place to take pictures of my kids is on Easter in front of those very same flowers.

3. Patti Digh's latest book is Creative is a Verb. I highly recommend all things Patti. Enough said.

4. We are a 3 computer family, 4 if you count the ipad, 5 if you count my laptop from work and 6 if you count my DH's work laptop. And there's only 4 of us. What's wrong with this picture? Miles has inherited my husband's old desktop computer. He's even set up his own "office." While I've been writing this blogpost, they've been buying and setting up a computer desk for his very own. Miles is insanely happy.

**I'll add pics of Miles's office later.**

5. My students write reflection papers over Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood in my Lifespan Development class at LWC. While I'm definitely not pleased with the actually grading of the papers, I do enjoy reading them. I particularly feel it is a privilege to read this Adolescence set, because many of the students share some very trying and inspirational stories in them.

6. Due to my strange work schedule that allows either my DH or myself to be home to greet Miles and Meredith at the bus each day, I often have to do work on weekends. Those Lifespan students are looking forward to dreading their scores. Oh look, I'm back to dread.

Meredith is away for most of the weekend for the first time ever at a church youth group event. That's a whole 'nother story. My baby is growing up.

What's on your list? Post in the comments below or post a link with your own blogpost.

Time get to those tulips.

Some Days: Part 2

First, a less than 5-minute video about play.  (And no, I'm not a Dr. Brown saleswoman, but if you buy his book through this link I make a little dough.)  I just really think it's an important book.

In my last post, I mentioned that some days there's so much work to do there's not much time for play.  And yes, as one person commented, sometimes work is play.  And sometimes a lot of work is involved in preparation for play.  Just think of planning for a big party. 

Earlier this week I was getting ready to teach my new Creative Play Therapy Interventions class in beautiful Prestonsburg KY.  The leaves on the trees in the mountains and hills of Eastern Kentucky are alive with their autumn colors.  I seriously wished I could have taken pictures while I was driving, but of course, I don't shoot and drive.  Sorry, bad pun. 

Once I got to my destination I really enjoyed myself with this wonderful group of students.  This time my work did feel like play.  And I did take some pictures after all.  The students and I experienced an excuse to go outside and enjoy the fall weather a walking meditation. 

Here's what I saw as I came out of the building.

Next to the building was a sweet little nature walk where I took these pics.

Couldn't decide which one of these I like better.

So what can you do to make work more like play?

Are ya ready for some football?

Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play and author of the aptly titled book, Play, says that one common type of play is spectator play.  We observe an event (often sports-related) and get quite caught up in the sights, sounds, smells--the experience of it.  It's usually not the same to watch the event on TV as being there in person.  This weekend I enaged in this type of play as I watched Lindsey Wilson College (where I teach) have its first football game in 75 years. 

One of the best parts of the game was watching this parachuter deliver the game ball.  Pretty cool, huh?

                      

Here are the fans.  My high school stadium was bigger than this, but then again, it had more students than my little college does...and it's in Texas.  (You know, Texas=football.)

Check out the hair on this fan.

And we have kickoff!

Of course, what's college football without a band?

My little fan amused himself with an empty box that once held T-shirts that lucky people such as myself received.  I never tire of watching him play.

In the end, Lindsey Wilson lost.  They fought hard, so they say.  There will be more games.  But for a moment, I felt a sense of connection with all the other fans on that day as we rooted on our team.  And it felt good. 

Edited to say:  for more pics of the game