Yesterday, while visiting friends down at the lakeshore, I watched
a young boy create a fifteen minute adventure with a length of fabric strap and
a willow tree overhanging the lake. “I
am practicing survival skills,” he announced, as he whipped the strap about.
Good enough, I thought.
As adults, we actively confront and suppress such urges to play. We have filled those spaces where we once
played with exercise equipment, file cabinets stuffed with tax returns and
mortgage papers, and cleaning supplies.
Our sense of wonder also fails us.
Give child a clock, and the child will listen for noise inside,
examine all angles, and note the weight.
How does it work? Why is that
part round? Why is this made square?
Give the very same clock to an adult and the adult will worry
about the time and wonder about the accuracy.
We are practicing a different set of survival skills.
—Mitchell Hegman
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