Luxurious necessities

I remember having an intense philosophical debate with someone in college. I didn’t have a fully formed idea (not much has changed) but felt in my bones that we needed art, music, movement, beauty, play and nature. They were arguing that the pragmatic living model didn’t require those things and in fact they were luxuries. They were frivolous and time-consuming when that time could be better used on productivity.

Fast forward to many more years with people and much more training about how we function biologically. It turns out the thing I felt was true, actually had a basis. When I started to learn about the polyvagal theory, I recognized the things that heal us, and trigger ventral vagal engagement, or safe, curious engagement in our environment were related to play. Our bodies respond to slowing down, engaging in play, sharing and experiencing deep emotions to connect to others. Tell me what strums a more visceral response than music, or theater or dance? And how we connect to others when they share that is magic. That heals us. It isn’t a waste, it is perhaps, the point.