Back in my day…I know, I know…anytime you hear those words there’s an automatic responsive eye roll that occurs, like Pavlov’s dogs (I think I just dated myself twice in the same sentence. Some people might look at that as a detriment; however, I see it as a gift). But seriously, back in my day, we had a shit ton more unstructured time.
I want to say unstructured “play” time, but as soon as I do, somehow it seems to lose credibility because we associate play with immaturity. And accordingly, immaturity lacks wisdom. Throw the word “play” into any sentence or situation and it seems to lose credibility.
Now, add in the word “unstructured” to the word “play” and most people see pure chaos! Images of kids jumping on furniture, painting walls with lipstick, and climbing up the fridge to get to the cookie jar on top.
For many, these visions bring anxiety and panic. Control seems to trump any sense that perhaps, unstructured play time could be a good and necessary thing for a young person’s development. However, I would argue that unstructured play time is the most vital part of development and incredibly important to an adult’s continued growth.
As a youngster growing up in south Florida, my bike was my life line to the world. I would meet up with a buddy, usually at the Cumberland Farms, for a couple of slushees and a game or two of Donkey Kong, while we forged a plan for where we were going next.
And go we would. We would ride all day!
Those days are long gone. Somewhere along the line, structure became the rule. Planned “play dates” took the place of the cherished bike riding meetups. For some reason, structured plans took the calendar by storm, filled with two hours at Timmy’s house to build paper planes or two hours at the science museum downtown.
And as young people grow, structure seems to permeate everything. It is rampant in schools, as more and more formulaic lessons are taught, minimizing the amount of “unstructured” time kids have in class because that means more class management by the teacher. And what teacher wants to manage their class? Just keep ‘em busy and you don’t have to.
And the amount of micro managing that happens with just about any job is enough to send a person into a deep depression. No wonder we have a mental health crisis in our country.
But wise fishermen seem to have found a solution!
The fisherman experiences the importance of unstructured play time every time out on the water.
As king of the Unstructured Play Time, the fisherman plans one thing…where he will fish. That’s it. Beyond that, the world is his oyster. There is no structure to the time a fisherman explores water, which adds an element to the experience that makes it better. Come what may, the fisherman must problem solve when fish aren’t biting, rejoice when they are, and understand what happens around them.
Never is a fisherman more in tune with their world, than when they are fully engaged in unstructured play time while fishing. That’s because they are able to let go of control. They are able to immerse themselves in the only “task” they seek to accomplish…catch a fish.
I love unstructured play time and think everyone should embrace it more, as it teaches me that I don’t always need control. I learn from not having control. And that allows me to experience more joy. Thus, in a time when our country struggles with mental wellness, perhaps we should consider what the fisherman already knows.
The solution seems simple…just go fishing!