š¹ļø Welcome to Playtime! I aim to put a smile on your face, laugh in your belly, tickle thru your brain and scare in your gut šš¤£š§ š±
On a call with a delightfully eclectic gentleman Joel Christiansen, we were discussing the subject of Play being the panacea of all mankindās woes. Today Iām gonna discuss a problem quite apart from anything childlike and playful.
Violent crimes and devious behavior land the worst of societyās deviants in prisons across the world. We may call them correctional facilities, but those inside donāt share the same sentiment.
Prison is Boring
The basic building blocks of lifeās bare necessities are amply provided for. You get a roof over your head, a pillow under your head, food thrice a day, and sunlight plus physical activity once a day.
You have people all around you and also have the time and space to be by yourself and your thoughts. Why then does prison seem like a punishing experience?
Itās a closed-loop routine with no possibility of variance at all. Most people are stuck in similar or worse routines at work. But the possibility of change or a pivoting experience offers hope of excitement.
Kindergarten is Fun
What if we gave inmates a chance to play, all day? Whatās the worst that could happen? They would have fun, thatās what.
And in the process of playing like kindergarten kids (same kind of games), they would rewire their brains to a new way to get happy and high.
Which essentially means they ācorrectā their previously ingrained behaviors to seek pleasure only through crime and substance.
Now thatās what a correctional facility is supposed to provide - an environment and an opportunity to change.
Everyone wants Fun
Everyone wants to get high, be happy, and have fun. As adults, we seem to believe that our needs for joy can only be met by material assets and experiences.
However, as age eventually shows us, all we want is to enjoy the simple pleasures of life with each other.
And providing for such a simple yet delightful experience is the hallmark of a kindergarten experience. Perhaps itās time to return to the basics and rediscover unadulterated joy.
Stay subscribed, there's plenty to play with here. Check out moreĀ articles on my websiteĀ orĀ DM on TwitterĀ š¹ to chat more on how we can play together!
Great thought! While reading, it took me few years back when my son used to go to the day care. The day care looked like a prison to me initially. Only a set of activities to do with basic necessities provided. After a few months, I realized that the kid was actually having lot of fun. All he did there was play. Infact they "played" with everything irrespective of the activity.