The truth is that when a human being is not eating, drinking, sleeping, making love, talking, playing games or merely lounging about—and these things will not fill up a lifetime—–he needs work and usually looks for it, though he may not call it work.
–George Orwell
Do you agree with this? I sure do, and Andy would agree. Andy calls what he is doing work and he believes in it. I call what I do immersive, challenging play, and I believe it’s essential to my happiness and mental health.
Do you agree with Orwell at all?
February 28, 2019
No play makes Johnny a dull boy…We need balance
Coffee is on
Yes, that’s what Orwell is saying.
there are certainly a lot of “people” who could do with more “play” in their lives…you see it daily when you are out and about. Rushing off the bus, pushing forward in a queue, glued to those darn rectangular things, or looking at their watch.
Even though I’m going away tomorrow, I’m still working on my little hand knitted cowl, it will be done this evening as there is only a couple of rows left – it’s made me feel this week, that I’ve achieved something nice…
For me it’s the greatest luxury to be able to decide how I spend my time. I don’t take that for granted.
I’m tickled you knit your little cowl. 🙂 Something like that can make us feel centered, that we’re not too scattered rushing around to get things done.
Again, bon voyage!
My “work” is more like challenging playtime, but there are days it really does feel like work. Hubby is a big believer in work. The ethics, morals, discpline, everything that comes with it has made him the man he is and he really is awesome at everything he does.
Andy says years ago some guys at work were talking about whether their folks had left them money. Andy said they gave him something more important — a good work ethic . I know what you mean about being awesome. 🙂
The “needs to work” I agree with because that’s how I earn a living.
What would you do if your present salary came in without your having to work? How important is having a regular activity to your well being?
I agree. Whether we work at play or just work so we’ll have money to play in retirement, humans need something to do where we’re setting goals and accomplishing tasks. Our definition of work changes in the various stages of our lives.
Amen to that. 🙂
Yes, it depends what you mean by work, doesn’t it? I have plenty of things to occupy my time now I’ve given up paid work. But I don’t call them work, I call them enjoying myself! But I guess you could call it work if it’s something strenuous but necessary like Andy clearing snow off a track.
Or if it’s a challenging technical problem. Even if one enjoys the challenge, it still requires a lot of effort.