Playing Games

“Games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose for ourselves, and it turns out that almost nothing makes us happier than good, hard work.”
― Jane McGonigal, book Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

“The awful thing about life is this: Everybody has their reasons.” -Octave in The Rules Of The Game, film by Jean Renoir

“Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess!” – from The Most Dangerous Game, short story by Richard Connell

“A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play…There is no finite game unless the players freely choose to play it. No one can play who is forced to play.” -James P. Carse, book Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility

For anything you’re wanting to do, first ask yourself if there’s a way to turn the work, the process, into a game. That’s how you’ll stay engaged and in flow.

Next, figure out what are the rules of the game. If there are none, design your own. That’s part of the fun!

Last, decide how long you want to keep playing. Is this game bounded by time and space? Does it have specific deadlines? (Producing a play for example.)

Or is it infinite? (Becoming a better artist and human.)

And remember, you have agency. For any specific game that comes your way, you can always choose not to play.