Coming Out To Play In Community

Don’t miss the video towards the bottom of this post!

You’ve no doubt heard the expression “All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy“…?

All too often these days, we see and hear of people getting stressed and burned out from over-scheduled and demanding lives. What if we could find a way to add play back into our lives, and in particular as leaders in community?

A feeling of safety with those we interact with is usually a prerequisite for genuine play, although safety does not guarantee play will occur. Even if some degree of safety exists, it often takes some courage to allow ourselves to really authentically play with others, particularly when we’re breaking established patterns of interacting.

But when we boldly leap and dare to be playful, it almost always deepens our connection with others as we see more clearly who each of us truly is as a human being and not just as a role-player. Oh, and by the way, we often tend to get re-energized and reduce our overall stress levels at the same time!

As kids, we used to play with each other so naturally all the time; it was just our daily life experience. And then we grew up and life got serious, didn’t it…? But at the end of the day when we think about it, this was a choice that we made, although perhaps it seems like the choice was made out of necessity as the result of all of the responsibilities we hold.

But who says it has to be this way?!

How can we find ways to play WHILE we fulfill our community leadership calling (rather than finding play separately in some other way)?

Ever think about joining the circus? They seem to have this figured out! Circus performers, by virtue of what they do, get to lean into their work with a big sense of play all the time. What can we learn from them that would help us to reclaim play, and strengthen our connections in community?

For an entertaining lesson on what’s possible when fun meets work in community, drink in the Gandini Jugglers below (8:02). Look for the following as you watch:

• How there is a continual dance between all of the members of the community;
• How playful “conversations” between two or three members are always occurring, which contribute to the meta-narrative of the community;
• How each member’s contribution is vital to the success of the community;
• How each member is a leader AND a follower at different times;
• How the community works (and plays!) as one system;
• How by playing while getting the job done, the result is pure joy for everybody.

Incredible isn’t it?

So stepping back into your world, ask yourself:

• Where is more play needed in your community?
• How can you be the catalyst to bring more play into your community’s experience?
• What might be possible if you dared to do it (today!)?

Share your thoughts with us below…oh, and don’t forget to have some fun while you’re doing it !

Technorati Tags: community, connected, connection, leader, Leadership, play