The opposite of play is …. ?

If you thought ‘Work’  Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Wrong!

But you’re in crowded company, because many people give that same answer.

According to Steve Keil, the opposite of play, is depression.  I agree.

Play is a basic need of all human beings, a need that ranks up there with eating, sleeping and sex. Yet most people reflexively answer ‘work’ to that question.

Curious, no?

After all, opposite means completely other than, and we all know that play is fun, enjoyable, rejuvenating, healthy etc.  So if you think the opposite of play is work then guess what your association of work is?

NOT fun, NOT enjoyable, NOT rejuvenating, NOT healthy etc.

Terribly tragic if true for you.

If you are one of these people then your work occurs for you as tedious, stressful, restrictive, demeaning, boring, etc.  Check all that apply.

Well it doesn’t have to be that way.

Check the eighteen minute TED video “A Manifesto for Play,” below.   In it, Steve Kiel talks about how his beloved Bulgaria got infected (my word) with the idea that play is the antithesis of work, and how this idea has caused his country to rank at the bottom of the list, in academia, business, and just plain outlook on life.  His answer is for a revolution (but a playful one) where play becomes essential to the work environment.

If you, or someone you know constantly complains about their gestapo work environment, then this video will be appreciated. Bookmark it if you don’t have time, it’s worth the watch.

provider:    ted
url:         https://ted.com/talks/view/id/1170

src:         https://embed.ted.com/talks/steve_keil_a_manifesto_for_play_for_bulgaria_and_beyond
src gen:     https://embed.ted.com/talks/view