I've been chatting a lot lately with parents and teachers that will tell me their child or student, each obviously very bright, seems content to spend hours each day playing in a sandbox, or with lego, doodling or just daydreaming. I love it! We often know what we need, particularly when we are kids. Maria Montessori once wrote that you should never give more to the mind than you give to the hands, which I have held onto and repeated to myself for the past 20 years - it just struck me as a truth, although I didn't remember any of the science behind it. But it makes sense, that call for balance.
I've always celebrated the gospel records where Jesus leaves the crowd to go off on his own. Ah, the importance of downtime...time to pray, to rest, to meditate, to play, to do nothing. We all know the spiritual directive for considering rest holy, but if you've forgotten the science behind why we need rest, (or if, in the season's busyness, need an excuse to rest) check out the link below, and enjoy all the neuroscience behind daydreaming, napping, taking long baths, playing with kids, or making snow angels.
It's Okay to Daydream: Scott Barry Kaufman on Creativity
May your rest be blessed.
