Playing

I've just read half of a paper by the philosopher Mark Rowlands who says that play is what gives life meaning.

The things you do for no other purpose than for themselves. Not to get a degree or get money or get fit or feel better about yourself or satisfy your parents or increase your status.

It's a good argument so far.

And it made me wonder what I do to play. Actually, I used to play games on my iPhone. I really like them. But I can't see any on the app store that I fancy the look of. Apart from that, I guess I turn everything else into a duty. Have to exercise, ought yo paint, must read something improving.

Though I did just watch 'Queen's Gambit' on Netflix. That was very good. Seems too passive to count as play.

Oh, going to the theatre! That was play, and indeed they were plays.

I enjoy the Masters... if I weren't competitive - against others and myself - I'd enjoy it more.

Maybe socialising is play. I guess so. I don't especially like it... well, I don't relish it though I do often enjoy it when it happens.

I used to love games - board games and card games, imaginative make believe games, games with toys and dolls. I'd like to play a good board game now. But I think that games like that have to be done in that spirit of togetherness and intimacy. The presence and the buzz of competition in a room, with the lights on because it's dark outside and glassing clinking and some laughter. Maybe I like socialising more than I thought.

Maybe I'll take another look on the app store.