Life is Short, Play More

An Essay By：Edward Cheng

Introduction

Life is a precious gift that we often take for granted. We get so caught up in our daily routines, responsibilities, and worries that we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures and joys that life has to offer. We forget to play, to have fun, to laugh, to explore, to learn, to create, and to connect with others. We forget that life is short, and that we should make the most of it while we can.

In this essay, I will argue that playing more is not only beneficial for our physical and mental health, but also for our personal and professional growth, our relationships, and our society. I will provide examples and evidence from various sources to support my claim. I will also suggest some ways that we can incorporate more play into our lives, and how we can overcome some of the common barriers and challenges that prevent us from playing more.

Benefits of Playing More

Playing more has many benefits for our well-being and happiness. According to the American Psychological Association, play is defined as "a voluntary, intrinsically motivated activity that is engaged in for its own sake, and is characterized by positive affect, creativity, and flexibility"（APA, 2014）. Play can take many forms, such as games, sports, hobbies, arts, music, humor, adventure, and exploration. Play can be done alone or with others, indoors or outdoors, with or without rules, and with or without props. The key is that play is enjoyable, spontaneous, and expressive.

One of the main benefits of playing more is that it reduces stress and improves our mood. Play stimulates the release of endorphins, the natural chemicals that make us feel good and relieve pain. Play also lowers the levels of cortisol, the hormone that causes stress and anxiety. By playing more, we can cope better with the challenges and pressures of life, and enhance our emotional resilience and well-being. Studies have shown that play can help prevent and treat depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders（Brown, 2009）.

Another benefit of playing more is that it boosts our physical health and fitness. Play involves movement, activity, and exercise, which improve our cardiovascular, muscular, and immune systems. Play also helps us maintain a healthy weight, prevent chronic diseases, and increase our longevity. Research has shown that play can help prevent and treat obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other physical ailments（Ginsburg, 2007）.

A third benefit of playing more is that it enhances our cognitive and creative abilities. Play stimulates our brain, improves our memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, and fosters our imagination and innovation. Play also helps us learn new things, acquire new skills, and adapt to new situations. Studies have shown that play can help improve academic performance, cognitive development, and intelligence in children and adults（Singer & Singer, 2009）.

Implications of Playing More

Playing more not only benefits us as individuals, but also as members of society. By playing more, we can improve our personal and professional growth, our relationships, and our social impact.

One of the implications of playing more is that it fosters our personal and professional growth. Play helps us discover our passions, interests, and talents, and pursue our goals and dreams. Play also helps us develop our confidence, self-esteem, and self-expression, and overcome our fears and insecurities. By playing more, we can find more meaning and purpose in our lives, and achieve more satisfaction and fulfillment. Studies have shown that play can help increase motivation, productivity, and performance in the workplace, and promote career success and advancement（Stuart Brown, 2012）.

Another implication of playing more is that it strengthens our relationships and social bonds. Play helps us connect with others, communicate better, and cooperate more. Play also helps us empathize with others, understand different perspectives, and respect diversity. By playing more, we can build more trust, intimacy, and joy in our relationships, and reduce conflict, loneliness, and isolation. Studies have shown that play can help improve social skills, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal relationships in children and adults（Panksepp, 2008）.

A third implication of playing more is that it contributes to our social impact and positive change. Play helps us express our values, beliefs, and opinions, and influence others. Play also helps us challenge the status quo, question the norms, and create new possibilities. By playing more, we can inspire more creativity, innovation, and progress in our society, and address some of the most pressing issues and problems that we face. Studies have shown that play can help foster social change, civic engagement, and social justice in various domains and contexts（Sutton-Smith, 1997）.

Ways to Play More

Playing more is not only desirable, but also possible and feasible. There are many ways that we can incorporate more play into our lives and overcome some of the common barriers and challenges that prevent us from playing more.

One of the ways to play more is to schedule some time for play every day. We can set aside some time in our busy schedules, and make play a priority and a habit. We can also look for opportunities to play in our daily activities, and add some fun and humor to our routines. We can play with our friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers, and join some clubs, groups, or communities that share our interests and passions. We can also play by ourselves, and enjoy some solitude and reflection.

Another way to play more is to try new things and explore new horizons. We can experiment with different types of play, and find out what we like and what we don't. We can also challenge ourselves, and step out of our comfort zones. We can learn new skills, languages, or instruments, or travel to new places, cultures, or countries. We can also play with different ideas, perspectives, or scenarios, and imagine what if and why not.

A third way to play more is to embrace our inner child and our playful spirit. We can remember what we used to enjoy as children, and reconnect with our childhood memories and experiences. We can also be more curious, open-minded, and playful, and let go of our worries, fears, and judgments. We can also be more spontaneous, flexible, and playful, and follow our impulses, instincts, and intuitions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, playing more is not only good for us, but also good for others and for the world. Playing more can improve our physical and mental health, enhance our cognitive and creative abilities, foster our personal and professional growth, strengthen our relationships and social bonds, and contribute to our social impact and positive change. Playing more can also make us happier, more fulfilled, and more alive. Therefore, I urge you to play more, and to remember that life is short, and that we should make the most of it while we can.

生命是一份珍贵的礼物，我们常常把它视为理所当然。

我们被日常事务、责任和担忧所困，忘记了享受生活所提供的简单的快乐和开心。

我们忘记了玩耍，忘记了快乐，忘记了欢笑，忘记了探索，忘记了学习，忘记了创造，忘记了与他人交流。

我们忘记了生命是短暂的，我们应该在力所能及的时候充分利用它。

在这篇文章中，我将论证，多玩不仅有利于我们的身心健康，也有利于我们的个人和职业发展，我们的人际关系和我们的社会。

我将提供来自不同来源的例子和证据来支持我的观点。

我还会提出一些方法，让我们在生活中融入更多的游戏，以及我们如何克服一些阻碍我们玩更多游戏的常见障碍和挑战。

多玩的好处
多玩对我们的健康和幸福有很多好处。

根据美国心理协会的定义，游戏是“一种自愿的、内在动机的活动，是为了自己的利益而参与的，具有积极的影响、创造力和灵活性”（APA, 2014）。

玩耍可以有多种形式，比如游戏、运动、爱好、艺术、音乐、幽默、冒险和探索。

玩耍可以独自一人或与他人一起进行，室内或室外，有或没有规则，有或没有道具。

关键是游戏是愉快的、自发的和富有表现力的。

多玩游戏的一个主要好处是它可以减轻压力，改善我们的情绪。

玩耍会刺激内啡肽的释放，这是一种让我们感觉良好、缓解疼痛的天然化学物质。玩耍还能降低皮质醇的水平，皮质醇是一种导致压力和焦虑的激素。通过多玩，我们可以更好地应对生活中的挑战和压力，增强我们的情绪弹性和幸福感。研究表明，玩耍可以帮助预防和治疗抑郁、焦虑和其他精神障碍。

多玩游戏的另一个好处是它能促进我们的身体健康。

玩耍包括运动、活动和锻炼，这可以改善我们的心血管、肌肉和免疫系统。玩耍还能帮助我们保持健康的体重，预防慢性疾病，延长寿命。研究表明，玩耍有助于预防和治疗肥胖、糖尿病、心脏病和其他身体疾病。

多玩游戏的第三个好处是它能增强我们的认知和创造能力。

玩耍刺激我们的大脑，提高我们的记忆力、注意力和解决问题的能力，培养我们的想象力和创新能力。玩耍还能帮助我们学习新事物，获得新技能，适应新环境。研究表明，玩耍有助于提高儿童和成人的学习成绩、认知发展和智力。

多玩的意义
多玩不仅有利于我们个人，也有利于社会成员。通过多玩游戏，我们可以提高个人和职业发展、人际关系和社会影响力。

多玩的一个含义是，它促进了我们的个人和职业发展。

玩耍帮助我们发现我们的激情、兴趣和才能，并追求我们的目标和梦想。玩耍还能帮助我们培养自信、自尊和自我表达，克服恐惧和不安全感。通过多玩，我们可以在生活中找到更多的意义和目标，并获得更多的满足感和成就感。研究表明，玩耍可以帮助提高工作场所的积极性、生产力和表现，促进职业成功和进步。

玩得更多的另一个含义是，它加强了我们的人际关系和社会纽带。

游戏帮助我们与他人建立联系，更好地沟通，更多地合作。玩耍还能帮助我们同情他人，理解不同的观点，尊重多样性。通过玩更多的游戏，我们可以在人际关系中建立更多的信任、亲密和快乐，减少冲突、孤独和孤立。研究表明，游戏有助于提高儿童和成人的社交技能、情商和人际关系。

玩得更多的第三个含义是，它有助于我们的社会影响和积极的变化。

玩耍帮助我们表达自己的价值观、信仰和观点，并影响他人。玩耍也帮助我们挑战现状，质疑规范，创造新的可能性。通过玩更多的游戏，我们可以激发更多的创造力，创新和社会进步，并解决我们面临的一些最紧迫的问题和问题。研究表明，在各种领域和背景下，游戏有助于促进社会变革、公民参与和社会正义。

玩更多游戏的方法
多玩不仅是可取的，而且是可能的和可行的。

有很多方法可以让我们在生活中融入更多的游戏，并克服一些阻碍我们玩更多游戏的常见障碍和挑战。

多玩的方法之一就是每天安排一些时间来玩。

我们可以在繁忙的日程中留出一些时间，让玩耍成为一种优先事项和习惯。我们也可以在日常活动中寻找玩耍的机会，给我们的日常生活增添一些乐趣和幽默。我们可以和朋友、家人、同事甚至陌生人一起玩，加入一些俱乐部、团体或社区，分享我们的兴趣和激情。我们也可以自己玩，享受一些独处和反思。

另一种玩得更多的方式是尝试新事物和探索新视野。

我们可以尝试不同类型的游戏，找出自己喜欢的和不喜欢的。我们也可以挑战自我，走出我们的舒适区。我们可以学习新的技能、语言或乐器，或者去新的地方、文化或国家旅行。我们也可以尝试不同的想法、观点或场景，想象如果发生了什么，为什么不发生。

第三种玩得更多的方法是拥抱我们内心的孩子和我们的游戏精神。

我们可以回忆起我们小时候喜欢的东西，重新连接起我们童年的记忆和经历。我们也可以变得更好奇、更开放、更好玩，放下我们的担忧、恐惧和判断。我们也可以更自然、更灵活、更有趣，跟随我们的冲动、本能和直觉。

结论
总之：多玩不仅对我们有好处，而且对他人和世界也有好处。

多玩游戏可以改善我们的身心健康，增强我们的认知和创造能力，促进我们的个人和职业发展，加强我们的关系和社会联系，并有助于我们的社会影响和积极的变化。

玩得多也能让我们更快乐、更充实、更有活力。

因此，我强烈建议你多玩，并记住生命短暂，我们应该在力所能及的时候充分利用它。

附几首古人的诗句

《人生一世吟》
宋·邵雍
前有亿万年，后有亿万世。
中间一百年，做得几何事。
又况人之寿，几人能百岁。
如何不喜欢，强自生憔悴。
《人生天地间》
宋·陈襄

天无私覆心，地无私载德。

人生天地间，荣辰何相隔。

《临江仙 送钱穆父》
北宋·苏轼
一别都门三改火，天涯踏尽红尘，依然一笑作春温。无波真古井，有节是秋筠。
惆怅孤帆连夜发，送行淡月微云，尊前不用翠眉颦。人生如逆旅，我亦是行人。
苏轼表达的“荣辱不惊、淡然处世，潇洒、恬淡”的人生。

图片

When my daughter graduated from primary school, I wrote an essay for my dear child "Life is short, play more". I hope she will not laugh at my English.

女儿小学毕业季，写一篇随笔送给亲爱的小孩《人生苦短 多玩》希望她不要吐槽我的英文。