The Weight of Play

I found a small, knitted toy under the sofa this morning while I was looking for my keys. It belonged to my niece, who hasn’t visited in months, but holding it brought back the sound of her laughter so clearly I almost turned around to answer her. It is strange how quickly we outgrow the things that once felt like extensions of our own bodies. We start out wearing our imagination on the outside—a hat with ears, a cape, a mask—and the world feels like a playground designed specifically for us. Then, slowly, the costumes come off. We trade the wonder of being something else for the heavy, predictable comfort of being ourselves. I wonder if we lose a piece of our courage when we stop pretending. Is it possible to keep that sense of play alive, or does it inevitably fade as we learn to take the world more seriously? What was the last thing you wore or did just because it made you feel like someone else entirely?

Shirren Lim has captured this beautiful spirit in her photograph titled Floppy Ears. It reminds me that there is a profound strength in staying young at heart, no matter where we are. Does this image bring back any childhood memories for you?