Writer Confessions: 66 Days of Play, Week 0: Time to Unseriousify Myself

Welcome to the official first post in my Writer Confessions: 66 Days of Play series. Here you will find gems of wisdom and witty stories (maybe…hopefully) about a self-imposed challenge where I will spend time engaged in hobbies or “playtime” each day from February 1-April 7. Whether you’ve stumbled on this post or are here intentionally, this intro is simply to orient around the goal at hand.

What is 66 Days of Play and why are you committing to such frivolity, you ask? Here’s a quick summary on the “what”:

1. 66 days is supposedly the average amount of time it takes to form a habit according to articles on the all-seeing google.
2. Play is the act of engaging in fun things for no reason. You’re not expecting an outcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re “good” at it. You’re simply enjoying an activity of choice.
3. Ergo, 66 Days of Play is a challenge to do one fun thing a day for 66 days straight.

Now that you know the “what,” let’s briefly discuss the “why.” Why am I doing this? Why add another “to do” on my already full daily list?

My answer is complex and personal, yet simple and common at the same time: I want off the hamster wheel.

I’m taking a serious break from all this seriousness to see if I can unseriousify myself.

I need a break from our achievement-based society. I’m reevaluating my priorities and doubling down on my health and wellness. I want to unleash my creativity to see what blossoms. I crave change and need a catalyst to launch into the next chapter of life.

I suspect play can help me with these things. And as it turns out, you don’t have to simply take my word for it; there’s research on the topic.

• National Institute of Play, founded by Dr. Stewart Brown
• Dr. Brené Brown’s website, researcher who studies courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy

Over the next two-month journey, I hope to explore the topics of attitude, creativity, achievement, and more. I anticipate some silliness in my playtime activities of choice. Definitely lots of mermaid and arts-related endeavors. Many quiet nights reading and writing. And maybe an adventure or two.

At the end of the challenge, I’m hopeful that this experience will shift my perspective for the positive and help me open up to a whole new realm of possibilities.

Feel free to join in the fun and pick a play time or two or sixty-six! Until next time, Merworld. You flipping rock!

~Melissa