Keep on playing to fly up high

It was in San Francisco that I found myself caught by the view of two crows playing together high up in the air. It looked like they were dancing together, teasing each other now and then. Did you know that crows can fly upside down? And that their playful behaviour is an act of their intelligence and an expression of their social capabilities? Birds are, by the way, the species most related to the dinosaur. Proof for their greatly enhanced nature? Crows along with some other birds, like the Kea, are perceived as very intelligent. Having learned about this, I started thinking of what intelligence is. 

What is intelligence?
Is intelligence something you inherit? Or is it something you can develop? And what separates the intelligent from the non-intelligent? First of all there is no sharp line between intelligence and non-intelligence. Every species has its own intelligence matching its need to act in this world. But how come we see some as more intelligent than others? An owl for example, although seen as a symbol of wisdom, is less intelligent than a crow. Even while its being is perfectly adjusted for finding its prey in the dark, and maintaining a sharp overview of its hunting area. Intelligence is just not about the way we are finding our food. Then what else is it that forms our vision of intelligence? 

Living or surviving
Intelligence separates those who are living from those who are surviving. Playing makes this distinction visible. Because those who struggle to survive, usually don’t play. And those who play greatly live. 

We all know owls have a hard time surviving. They are on the list of threatened species and have difficulties to adjust to changing environments, like developing cities. Crows on the other hand are very capable of adjusting to their habitat and do play a lot. It is already an older video, but I still love watching a crow cracking nutshells under cars’ tyres.

Then why do we perceive an owl as a wise animal? A common explanation is because this bird has its eyes faced forward and looks somewhat like us human beings. And because of that, and the fact that we think human beings are intelligent, is what determines our view. But are we really that smart?

Book smart
I believe that intelligence often is wrongfully explained. For example book smart isn’t intelligence, neither is skillfully crafting. There is more involved. Question yourself: Is someone who can follow and understand the steps of the most difficult mathematical formula more intelligent than someone who can climb the highest mountain? And is someone who can flawless play the piano more intelligent or someone who doesn’t play too well, but creates new melodies? 

In whatever ability someone excels, the overall act of intelligence is play. Because playing leads to new insights along with enhancing the quality of the underlying ability. For example, repeating a music part on the piano over and over again, can lead to better play the piano, but never to new experiences or innovation. Because you keep tightened to your own expectations of how something should sound. An expectation based on memories of the past.

Play and fail
Many people are driven by prior experiences. Holding onto copying what worked in the past. Repeating it over and over again. It’s safe. But it doesn’t lead to new experiences and innovation. If, on the other hand, you play, you will open up to new interpretations, possibilities and visions. This only does require that you allow yourself to make mistakes. Problem is that people are not used to being allowed of making mistakes. But actually it aren’t mistakes. It is just the creation of a new starting point. 

To come to these new inventions one must practice and combine. Over and over again. Practising is the miracle word in becoming good at something, but to excel one must add the ability to combine. Then suddenly you’ll find a new way to use the mathematical formula, find an unwalked path to climb the mountain or discover a new technique of making piano music. To keep enjoying all this exercise, playing is a crucial element. It adds fun to the part. Necessary to keep you attached.

Think of what one never thought of before
In my day-to-day job I work with many lawyers and most of the times their excellence is visible to me in just a few seconds. Two weeks ago I started working for a criminal defence lawyer. I asked him what he likes about his work. He answered: “The game, thinking of something no one has thought of before, within the set of rules and limited by circumstances, while making use of them at the same time.” This is what playing is. It is creating! 

Within the boundaries of the game, finding out what no one has thought of before. This can only happen when you can explore unconditionally. Playing offers the perfect conditions for unconditional exploration. Although tightened to the rules of the game, there are unlimited ways of anticipating situations. It is of no use to rely on experiences of the past, because in playing situations are unique. It is all about looking at the current and use your possibilities. With every step creating a new beginning for the next step. You can’t ever go back.

In playing you just act and do as you like. So should you do while finding creative solutions. It is the willingness to explore as many approaches as possible. Even when you already discovered a useful one.

This brings me to my final conclusion that the level of intelligence is not knowledge, but the quality to learn, how fast and thoroughly. Added with the willingness to play. Results will come eventually. Too all of you I tell you that I love to play. Enable myself to experience joy, the highest value in life, every moment of the day.

So consider yourself playing. At all times.

Image: Lena Pautina