Definition of Play and Palais 💖
a Decree
Play: “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose”
Palais [Palace]: “large and impressive building forming the official residence of a ruler, pope, archbishop, etc”
➔ A couple of months ago, I started sharing a bit of my play philosophies on my Instagram. Just before, I had been investigating my fears around social media exposure - like, why I felt hesitant to share how I really felt in the online sphere, why I felt shame around posting photos of myself online, and even why I felt strange sharing that sentiment.
So I decided to play with posting and, within that act of play, share my philosophy on play as a way of moving forward in life.
To my surprise, this really resonated with my community. Friends reached out privately to tell me the ways they were incorporating play into their life, through clowning and taking risks that normally felt too serious to take. With such a response, it felt like people were feeling what I was feeling - that we were all taking everything way too seriously.
So, I felt compelled to play publicly more.
Playing is the fun version of practice. As kids, when we played with toys and other children, we practiced working, practiced creating, practiced socializing. We practiced fighting and making up. We played. And it’s not only a human trait - dogs play, monkeys play, dolphins play.
But why is it that play is separated from life in adulthood, in a way that it is not when we are children? Is it because, by a certain age, you’re supposed to know everything? It’s like we play the game of life to learn arbitrary and local rules as children, before turning into referees that seek to enforce the rules on each other as adults.
I propose that we never stop playing. That we invite in the idea that rules are always changing, that the game’s board is always different and exciting. That, instead of fearing that we are found out for not knowing something, that we play with reality instead.
This is why I’ve started Play Palais, the palace where play is a lifestyle. A place where being playful is taken seriously as one of the most productive approaches one can take to life. It’s like a mind provoking Koan, an emotional puzzle through which you learn how to be in the flow of life, lose track of time, and follow your gut through the same playful energy you cultivated as a child.
Welcome to this Palais. Here we can play together, learn together, share together, stumble together and, hopefully, have a lot of fun together.
Words from my original post:
Fear is a really funny thing.
The fear itself doesn’t feel rational, yet we somehow rationalize the mechanics of our thoughts and actions that follow it. Like, even writing this makes me feel fearful a bit - like what if people misunderstand me, or something. Old patterns of feeling like vulnerability is a terrible weakness rear their head. Or, worse, the fear makes me second guess myself - like what are my intentions sharing something like this.
But having fear of posting on online? Not rational.
Healing the child within me has been my path for inner peace. I’ve been using Play as tool to coax fears into chilling out. Because if you’re playing, mistakes aren’t so scary - they become avenues to learn how to play/create/relate/do better. Play makes you lose track of time, puts you in a flow state. Play makes amazing art. Cool music. Fluid writing. Deeper relationships.
I believe when you play with your fears, and really sit like a child and share your toys with them - you find that, behind the shadows of fear, are some of the greatest gifts you accidentally hid from yourself and the world.
Your fears are telling you something powerful, I think.
*I’m still playing with how Substack works 😎
*Share with anyone you think will resonate 🪞
*And have a great day 💁🏾♀️
YESSSSS