[michaelochurch]

Excellent post. I don't agree with how the OP defines "work". Work is goal-directed activity that may involve momentary discomfort or difficulty, but that leads to a long-term purpose. If that purpose is stupid, then it's a waste of time, but if the purpose is useful and the work is rewarding, then it's a good thing.

"Play" is usually used to refer to divergent creativity. Convergent creativity is also important, and most people who never experience any pressure or limitations never get the latter of those down. Here's a post I wrote last week on divergent convergent creativity: http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/creativity-an...

What makes most "work" idiotic and soul-munching is that most of it's white-collar social climbing. Most people are actually more relaxed and happier when doing work activities than on average. What makes them unhappy are all the social stresses and extrinsics (such as unreasonable deadlines, bad personalities, implicit threats of professional adversity) that "work" imposes on them and that have nothing to do with actually getting things done.

[defdac]

That piece about convergent/divergent creativity was truly wonderful. Thanks!