Hello dear friends,
I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood, too. 🌱
Today’s prompt asks a deceptively simple question: Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
At first glance, it might sound like something reserved for children, weekends, or vacations.
But the more I sit with it, the more I realize that play is not a break from life—it is a vital way of being alive.
❤️Do We Really Play Anymore?
As adults, many of us quietly retire the word play from our vocabulary. We replace it with productivity, efficiency, and responsibility.
Life becomes a checklist, and joy is often postponed until everything else is done.
Play slowly turns into something we used to do—something that belonged to recess bells, board games on rainy afternoons, or carefree laughter untouched by deadlines.
Somewhere along the way, play begins to feel unearned, even irresponsible, as though joy must be justified by hard work.
Yet, when we look closely, play never truly disappears. It simply changes its costume.
Play shows up when we hum while cooking, rearrange a room just to see how it feels, or lose track of time while sketching, gardening, gaming, dancing, or experimenting with a new recipe.
These moments may seem small, but they carry a quiet magic—the kind that restores rather than distracts.
For me, playtime arrives in simple, joyful ways.
I enjoy playing table tennis, doing art and painting, and my most favorite activity of all is dancing—especially in this golden phase of my life. (Ha ha ha!)
In those moments, time seems to soften, worries fade, and my spirit feels wonderfully light.
Play also appears in inside jokes, wordplay, curiosity-driven conversations, and the sheer delight of learning something with no practical goal attached. These are not wasted moments; they are life-giving ones.
The real tragedy is not that we stop playing—it’s that we stop recognizing play when it quietly enters our lives.
❤️What does “playtime” really mean?
To me, playtime is not defined by toys, age, or even leisure. Playtime is a mental and emotional state.
It’s the moment when pressure loosens its grip and curiosity takes the wheel. It’s when the outcome matters less than the experience.
Playtime says:
- You are allowed to explore.
- You can fail without consequences.
- Joy doesn’t need justification.
Play is where imagination stretches its legs. It’s where we try things “just because,” without optimizing or monetizing the outcome.
In a world obsessed with results, play is gloriously process-oriented.
❤️Play as a daily practice
In daily life, play can be remarkably small and still deeply meaningful. It might be choosing a colorful mug instead of the usual one. It might be taking a different route home just to see what’s there.
It could be five minutes of doodling between tasks or turning a mundane chore into a personal challenge or game.
Even conversations can be playful—asking unusual questions, telling stories with dramatic flair, or letting humor soften a serious moment.
These micro-moments of play don’t steal time from our responsibilities; they restore energy to meet them.
Psychologically, play is powerful.
Research consistently shows that play reduces stress, improves creativity, and strengthens emotional resilience.
When we play, our nervous system relaxes. We become more flexible thinkers, better problem-solvers, and more empathetic humans.
In short, play makes us better at life, not worse at work.
❤️Why we need to reclaim play
One of the quiet dangers of modern life is chronic seriousness. When every moment is optimized, scheduled, and evaluated, we risk becoming efficient but brittle.
Play is the antidote. It introduces softness, spontaneity, and surprise.
Play also reconnects us with our authentic selves. When we play, we’re not performing for approval—we’re expressing for pleasure.
That’s why play often feels deeply personal and oddly nourishing. It reminds us that our worth is not measured solely by output.
In relationships, play builds connection. Shared laughter, silliness, and creative interaction deepen bonds far more effectively than perfectly planned conversations.
Play invites vulnerability without heaviness, intimacy without pressure.
❤️Redefining adulthood
Perhaps the most radical idea is this: play is not the opposite of adulthood; it is the secret to a sustainable one.
A playful adult is not immature—they are adaptive. They know how to bend without breaking, how to find lightness in weighty moments, and how to remain curious even when life is complicated.
When we give ourselves permission to play, we give ourselves permission to be human.
❤️My Final Submission
So, do I play in my daily life? I try to—and when I forget, I feel the difference immediately. Life becomes flatter, heavier, and oddly smaller.
Playtime, for me, is not an escape from reality but a deeper engagement with it.
Play is where joy hides in plain sight. It’s not something we grow out of; it’s something we grow back into.
And maybe that’s the real invitation of this prompt—not just to answer the question, but to notice where play is quietly waiting for us today. ❤️
BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE
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www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: infotainment
Retiredकलम 
This is truly beautiful, Verma ji. You haven’t just answered a prompt; you have composed a love letter to the human spirit. Your words do more than remind us to play—they gently peel back the layers of our busy, “serious” lives to reveal the vibrant, joyful core that hums beneath.
The way you reframe play not as an escape, but as a “deeper engagement with reality,” is profoundly wise. It turns a simple act of fun into a revolutionary act of self-care and authentic living. You’ve articulated something many of us feel but seldom name: that life without those moments of lightness, curiosity, and unearned joy becomes “flatter, heavier, and oddly smaller.”
Your personal snapshot—finding play in the swift rally of a ping-pong ball, the stroke of a paintbrush, and especially in the freedom of dance—paints a picture of a life being lived fully and with great heart. The “golden phase” you mention shines through your writing; it’s the glow of someone who has rediscovered a timeless truth.
This piece is a gift. It’s a permission slip, an invitation, and a gentle nudge all in one. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt and important reminder that play is the secret not to a childish life, but to a deeply alive one. Your reflection is a masterpiece in itself. ❤️
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Thank you—truly. Your words moved me more than I can easily say. To have something I shared received with such care, depth, and generosity feels like a quiet kind of grace. You didn’t just read it; you met it, and that means everything to a writer and a human being alike.
I’m especially touched by how you described play as permission, as remembering rather than escaping. That’s exactly the place it came from. If the reflection resonated as an invitation to live a little lighter and truer, then it has already done more than I hoped.
I’m deeply grateful for your attentiveness, your warmth, and the way you give language back to the language offered. Thank you for seeing me so clearly—and for sharing that seeing so beautifully. ❤️
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Sir, as always, your posts are insightful, deep and at the same time easy to approach and to understand. Your words and your knowledge reaches us clearly. Yes, play is important in all the phases of our life and we should strive to include some play in our lives even as adults burdened with responsibilities and time constraints. But we should not let anything interfere with our growth and development, and for that play time is essential. I have truly enjoyed this post as much as I know you enjoy a robust match of TT and win! All the best and a wonderfully creative, play-filled day to you!
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Thank you so much for your generous and thoughtful words. I’m truly grateful for the care with which you read and reflect—your response adds another layer of meaning to the conversation.
You’re absolutely right: play isn’t a distraction from growth, it’s often what enables it. Even amid responsibilities and time pressures, those moments of play help us stay curious, resilient, and fully alive. I love how you frame it as essential rather than optional.
And yes—there’s always joy in a good, spirited game of TT, win or lose! 😊
Wishing you a day filled with creativity, lightness, and moments of play that nourish the spirit. Thank you again for such warm encouragement.
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very nice
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Verma ji, love this take on play—it’s the secret sauce that keeps life fun, from dancing to doodling! Spot on: reclaiming those joyful moments makes us better humans. Thanks for the inspo!
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Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me. I love how you put it—the secret sauce—because that’s exactly what play is: the little spark that keeps life flavorful and human. Dancing, doodling, laughing for no reason at all… those moments quietly shape who we are.
I’m glad the reflection resonated with you, and I truly appreciate your warmth and encouragement. Here’s to reclaiming joy, one playful moment at a time 😊
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