Being human is hard—harder than we ever could have imagined. Yet, we continuously search for experiences and sensations that bring us the slightest bit of joy and pleasure. The imbalance between pure bliss and utter suffering often feels unfair.

Think back to when you were a kid, around 7 or 8 years old. You’re outside with all the time in the world to do anything you want—or at least, that’s how it feels in the boundless realm of childhood imagination. What do you decide to do? The possibilities seem endless! Your imagination and freedom to explore allow you not only to see the potential for what could be but to create it using only your mind. If only that magic could stick around in adulthood, amirite?

Maybe this is partly why psychedelic therapies have gained popularity. We are all attempting to briefly reconnect with that same creative magic we so easily possessed and utilized as children. This is why the concept of play, even in adulthood, is crucial to creating a life worth living. Without practicing some avenue for using our imagination and sense of wonder, we lose all that is magical about living.

In what ways can you find opportunities for play?