Playing is widely credited as a vital part of human development, with studies linking play to creativity, imagination, cognitive and emotional strength, as well as improving social skills and the way they engage with the world.
Playing isn’t just beneficial to children either. Too often we characterize adults as mature, serious, responsible, and exhausted rather than playful. While there haven’t been many studies into playfulness among adults, recent research found playful people were more likely to be good at observing, see things from new perspectives, be more innovative and have lower stress levels. 
Even though you may be busy, it’s incredibly easy to incorporate play into your day. A simple interpretation of play is the opportunity to live in the moment, smile and laugh throughout the day, and find enjoyment in the simplest of things.
Children are super good at playing. Observe them. Make sure you study their engagement or spontaneous enjoyment of the unexpected or their willingness to try new things. They sing and dance just for the fun of it. They do not shy away from being silly or making mistakes.
Play does not have to be childish. Friends are fun; together you play games or improvise how you enjoy time together.
When friends are not around, you can turn any adult activity into a game of fun, even if you are the only one playing.
You can open up opportunities for play when you participate in a variety of different activities that expand your horizons. Attending recitals, art shows, sporting events are fun and engaging. Tune in and be curious everywhere. Pay close attention to your surroundings to spot the people having fun. Stop over-thinking and just join in.
Storytelling is the heart of human nature.
It is the most fundamental aspect of human connection and understanding each other. It invites conversation, captivates attention, inspires the imagination and captures hearts. A story usually contains characters, images and emotions which make them memorable. Each narrative allows us an opportunity for empathy, generosity and bonding. We can turn to the story to guide our own ideas, experiences and values.
Our brains become more engaged and respond better to storytelling than data and facts.
We all have an Array of Great Stories
We all share stories of our family or work experiences. We use characters from books, movies and news reports to help us make sense of the world. Telling stories is one of the most powerful tools that leaders have to inspire and influence others. Whether factual, embellished, or improvised, storytelling is one of the oldest forms of both teaching and entertainment.
Today, we send out messages filled with texting short cuts and emoticons. We might pick up a phone to talk with someone without thinking of what we have to say.
Fortunately, we can strengthen our relationships by telling a short story, and at the same time channel our emotions and give that needy brain a workout.
Look at all the characters and happening around you. Appreciate the quirks of the mailman, the person walking by your window, or the repairman that fixed your car. Everyone around you can be a lead character in your real life story or your supporting actor. Pay attention to their personality, voice inflection, and demeanor. Learn to describe these people. Share those observations out loud or in writing.
Turn Everyday Experiences into Storytelling Opportunities
Life is happening around you. Stories are playing out in every corner of your world - on the street corner, a visit to a museum, historical site, zoo, art exhibit, cultural events, trade fair, or farmer’s market. The key is to pay attention, be curious, and seek out the nuances of your experience or what you are witnessing.
Pause and phone a friend to share any experience or the story you create. Whenever possible, you should share your stories because the tellingalso takes your cognitive function to an exciting new level of performance. Besides it is an enriching mind exercise for those are listening, too.
When an opportunity to tell a story to someone does not present itself, write you stories down. Writing about the experience is also good for exercising your brain.
Use the Power of your Imagination
When a real life situation doesn't present itself, create a story, Embellish a simple experience or imagine one. You see a cat cross the road. It has a story. It came from somewhere, it did things there. It is going somewhere. It is naturally curious and will do something. Pretend you are looking into a crystal ball and can see that cat's whole life unfold before your ideas.
Even if you are not an actual participant, create a scenario where you are part of the experience or a key witness to it. Image what you could see or do if you are a key character. Of course you can daydream or fantacize and add any embellishment you wish to make the experience more exciting for your brain and engage others when you share your stories.
You probably already have curious thoughts and imagine yourself in different situations. Turn those thoughts into a story. Imagine a scenario. Envision characters and conversations - their dress, the way they move, think, and act.
It is Important to Share your Stories
When you share your stories you exercise your brain and improve cognitive funtion. For the same reasons, you should be a ready listener and reader of stories. Especially when the content takes effort to understand, or sparks questions, ideas, entertainment, or “aha” moments.
When you are not able to engage with others in telling your story, tell yourself the story out loud. At least whisper it because your brain gets very excited when it hears you speak. Practice telling a story so you can tell the story to others around your next campfire visit.
Your goal is to excite your brain with the dramatic effect of storytelling. It doesn't matter if it is one minute creation or you end up stringing together multitudes of scenes for the basis of your own full length screenplay.
Being a Great Storyteller is an Incredibly Useful Skill
Not only is storytelling great for your mind it is a useful skill. People make careers out of telling a good story. Surprisingly it is quite easy to master. After all it is something you have been practicing nearly every day, when you tell your partner, children or coworkers what happened to you at lunch break. In the process you have developed a style of engagement and achieved a level of comfort.
t is rewarding to be able to turn an everyday experience into an inspirational highlight and it is fun taking others on an incredible journey. Everyone remembers a good story. Whether they heard it on a podcast, read about it in a newspaper, or saw it unfold in real life.
