A young boy throws a ball into Peter’s chest and exclaims, “Play!” 

Bouncing off Peter, the ball is caught by a second boy who then releases it to hit Peter in the face, declaring the same, ”Play!”

From one of Steven Spielberg’s seminal directorial works, this iconic scene lays bare the true essence of Peter Banning’s journey. To solve the immense challenge of saving his children, Peter, masterfully portrayed by Robin Williams, must remember what it is like to be a child himself. He must remember his instinct to play.

Evident in the reference to children, play is an an uninhibited release of energy, paramount to development. It is defined by chaotic exploration fueled by curiosity that leads to discovery and finally  understanding. The results of which excitingly unfold, as innocent exploration allows for the understanding of patterns, rules, inconsistencies, opportunities, goals.

Yet as time passes, stagnation on past learnings risks complacency. A sphere becomes larger, the amount of energy greater. Existing rules can appear to grow more powerful. Only continued play can result in new growth, new solutions formulated, within and most importantly beyond the initial sphere. 

With this knowledge obtained, ultimately sustaining evolution, essential to survival. 

The instinct of play and its constructive importance is well documented in nearly all professional applications, within both science and the humanities. So often the best solutions derive from happy accidents discovered when fooling around with a team - when creative energy is allowed to flow unabated.

When we let go of preconception, and let our imaginations run like a child released onto a playground, we, like Peter, make the unimaginable a possibility. When we remember our instinct to play, we fly to the rescue of ourselves, our children, and thus, our future.