Wolf
We’re all born with a sense of it, instinctually -
Play.
It’s where we begin, in the beginning - joy in every one of our senses and a need to experience the world in as many ways as we can. We don’t start out knowing what is “right” and what is “wrong” - instead, things are hot or cold, sharp or soft, they feel good or not so good. We let our curiosity drive and it is FUN to discover all that is new in the world.
But, for most of us, there comes a point where we have played enough to know how to get by and believe it’s time to get serious. AKA, stop messing around and get down to business. There comes a time when we push ourselves to leverage our talents and passions and put them to WORK - and play is lost. At least, that’s how it happened for me.
Even though I know it’s hardwired, that innate sense of play, it seemed like once I’d set aside my playful nature it wasn’t going to come back on its own. Instead had to consciously choose it, coax it out, nurture it back to life the way it had once nurtured me into learning the skills I needed to live, too.
And so appears Wolf - continuing to play long after she has mastered the early skills of stalking, pouncing, and hunting.
I was obsessed with wolves as a kid, and spent many an hour with my nose tucked in a non-fiction book about these magnificent creatures. Something that I read (that has stuck with me all these years) was that when wolves play, the social hierarchies that normally govern the pack fall away. Even the lowest ranking members can chase the alpha. Everyone just runs and jumps and rolls and bites for the joy of doing so. All the “shoulds” and “have-to’s” fall away as the pack makes space for silliness that, while seemingly unimportant, actually works as a glue to keep everybody happy and working together.
Sometimes life IS serious - we really do need food, shelter, security. But once our basic needs are met, I think that play becomes necessary to stay happy, too. Wolf is a reminder to shake out our ruffs, spend a little more time wagging our tails, and remember that there is always time for a round of zoomies.
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Original watercolor painting (6”x8”) available Saturday December 11 at 12pm Mountain Time!