The Importance of Play

I'd like to share a link with you that appears in the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/26/MNN01OLVQ4.DTL

There is much in this article about the importance of play; and those who read this Blog  even occasionally will know that I use humor, fun, laughter, play interchangeably. The article makes the case for play in our lives (and that includes work). I'd like to highlight just a couple of points:

"Play is strongly linked to physical and mental health."

"...employees, when given free time even at work, often produce creative ideas that improve their workplaces."

"...playful social interaction is strongly affected by dopamine, endorphins and other neurotransmitters that are also intimately linked to the motivational and pleasurable aspects of food, drugs and sex. The brain regions where positive emotions and motivation originate also mediate play."

(Some of the material cited in this article and post is from Stuart Brown, co-author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul.")

As the summer fun season approaches, what are you doing to bring yourself and others the opportunity for fun, fun, fun ('til daddy takes the t-bird away).