Note to a fellow elder

I wrote the following to a colleague, Bruce Williamson, who, like me, after 30 years of teaching people to play and play to people, finds himself oft-despairing about the apparent challenges of continuing on this path.

In this nut's shell - I think it's all packaging. Has nothing to do with who we aren't and everything to do with who we are. What we have, as elders, is a wisdom that's not available to youth, and consequently, not that easily recognizable as a thing worth caring about. Everyone wants to become more playful, to play more. Elders. Youngsters. And when they get to see what marvels of playfulness we "elders of play" have to offer (because some product we have made has somehow semi-magically found its way to them), they are delighted, excited, inspired.

I think this culture has different assumptions than the culture we grew up with. But the humanity hasn't changed. The need to play hasn't changed. So we have to, you and I, find other ways to do what we are, other ways to share that with people. Like maybe podcasting. Like maybe CDs. Performances. Theatre. Like maybe a different audience in a different guise.

I think we just have to play on, you and I, and not let go. Not ever.