Hello, What did you do for fun when you were ten years old? Do you still enjoy doing that activity, as an adult? As a child, I spent countless hours collecting and copying my favorite passages into my “blank books”—an activity that’s exactly like what I do now for my “Moment of Happiness” newsletter.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus has played many memorable roles—my two favorites are Elaine Benes in Seinfeld and Selina Meyer in Veep. On her terrific podcast Wiser Than Me, I was fascinated to hear her describe how, growing up, she loved pretending and putting on plays with the kids in her neighborhood. She said, “I remember that absolutely transporting joy of imaginary play…and here’s the thing: I get almost exactly the same feeling when I work now.” An observation often attributed to child psychologist Jean Piaget is, “Play is the work of childhood.” I think that, at its best, work is the play of adulthood. I feel very lucky that I feel that way myself, and I never, never take it for granted. |