ShakespeareAll the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
Isn’t it fascinating how the metaphor of life as a game or play is echoed across cultures and philosophies? From the Bhagavad Gita to philosopher Alan Watts, there’s a shared idea that life isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. It’s a dance, a cosmic play, where we’re both the participants and the observers.
I’m a big believer that life is what you make of it. You can choose to see it as a hell to endure. Or you can choose to see it as a game. I choose to see it as something to dance to. Something un-serious. Something I get to enjoy and experience and create.
As no one can actually prove what the meaning of life is, why not choose the theory that makes us the most happy? Why not embrace the perspective that life is a game?
That doesn’t mean being reckless or irresponsible. It’s about finding joy in the process, taking risks, and sometimes even laughing when things go wrong.
After all, what’s a life without a little fun?
As I dive into this month’s four fun things, let’s keep this playful spirit in mind. Whether it’s trying something new, indulging in a guilty pleasure, or just being a little more spontaneous, the point is to have as much fun as possible while we’re here.
You ready to play, cowgirls?
The Bhagavad Gita & My Birthday Tat
But a couple of weeks back, while reading an amazing book, the urge struck me. I wanted something meaningful to remind me that life is a game and that there is a greater reality to the illusion of our daily lives.
So, I turned to my favourite book – the Bhagavad Gita – and found a quote.
Easwaran's translation of the Bhagavad Gita"You were never born; you will never die. You have never changed; you can never change. Unborn, eternal, immutable, immemorial, you do not die when the body dies."
The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred Hindu scripture. It is a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who imparts profound spiritual wisdom and philosophical teachings to Arjuna, addressing fundamental questions about duty, righteousness, the nature of the self, and the purpose of life.
The Bhagavad Gita invites us to embrace our roles without attachment (even explaining Prince Arjuna’s role as a warrior and his duty to kill). It urges us to play our part in the divine game of life without getting entangled in the outcomes.
So, here’s my new tattoo.
A Long Summer Holiday, Alone
I was worried about our first August in Portugal. Schools would be closed. Temperatures would be g**damn-level hot in Portugal. Historically, not a great combo for my mental health.
But then my husband’s parents say they’re coming over to visit for a couple of weeks. They’d be renting a little beach house and the plan was for my husband and the kids to stay there.
Following that, him and the kids would go over to the UK to see the rest of the family for another 10 days.
And just like that, August went from dread to vacation. 3+ weeks of alone time for me, after 3 years of losing bodily autonomy. (That’s what being pregnant and having twins is – the loss of bodily autonomy).
I had no idea how much I actually needed this break until 4 days in. My mind suddenly started clearing and my body started stepping out of fight-or-flight mode.
And yes, I love my kids, but no, I still needed the time apart. I am soaking up every nanosecond of peace, independence, and introspection as I can. Recharging the batteries. I’m excited for them to come home to a better mommy. (And I miss them all!)
Dropping Shame & Giving Fewer F*cks
I think it must have been from this long, solo-break I’ve been having.
I’ve been using my time to explore some of my deeply entrenched sources of shame.
Like my internalised racism, sexism, and misogynoir.
And in shining a light on these internalised beliefs, they’ve stopped being such extreme sources of shame.
After exposing them to the light of reason, self-love, and existentialism, they’ve revealed themselves to be phantoms. And these ghosts were only living inside of me because I let them.
It’s from this point of earned freedom that I got the tattoo that I wanted. In fact, I think it was dropping shame that allowed me to even want a tattoo for myself.
Because I was brought up to believe that tattoos were for “bad people”. Decent people didn’t get tattoos. So, my tattoo as a teen was out of pure rebellion. But this one was out of love.
My in-laws also came over to the house before it was time for them all to head to the airport. The house I was staying at alone was a complete mess. Normally, I’d scramble to tidy up before they arrived. But I didn’t.
My husband had a shame attack on my behalf which made me realise how dry my well of shame was.
I no longer care to hide inconvenient parts of myself. I’m not going to pretend to have my shit more together than it is. I’m going through a process of shedding shame. My messy home was an important piece of the puzzle.
Final Thoughts
Alan Watts is one of my favourite philosophers because he dared to question the seriousness with which we approach our existence. Watts compared life to a dance. “The point isn’t to arrive at a certain point in the dancefloor. The point is to dance.” (I’m paraphrasing).
Isn’t that beautiful?
How are you going to dance?
[…] as I work through my own unlearning – including internalised racism and misogyny – I realise that what I want to talk about and create is not just another “white woman […]