How do you infuse play in your day-to-day?

Today I'm playing with a new format: I highlight how a few folks in my community are playing and being creative, because I believe that creating is the seat of our power. And it's how we create futures where we are flourishing and accessing well-being.
​Want me to feature you? To learn how, see the end of this dispatch!

🍄 Monika played with... furniture

Okay, I know that sounds wrong. But it looks really cool!

Monika Bielskyte is a queer, neurodivergent futurist. I love that she is in the tech world and urges people to see beyond the AI hype. She recently said:

Maybe we have to start asking... is it possible that for too long we have been rendering ourselves robotic? And we have been trying to teach people things that can be too easily automated and robotized.

Maybe that is not where the greatest human strength is, and maybe we have to reconsider education that really taps into the strength of human creativity. (Listen to Beyond GenAI Hype: Disability and Neurodivergence Inclusion for Livable, Hopeful Futures.)

🌱 Mukta played with food

Cilbir-inspired eggs poached on a bed of sauteed spinach, silky onions and roasted pumpkin,
topped with garlicky yogurt and Aleppo-pepper infused butter + oil, and sprinkled with serrano peppers. Perfectly messy, decadent and delicious served with your choice of bread.

Aayaan here: Eggs on roasted pumpkin?? Why have I never thought of that! Get more recipes by Mukta.

🦋 Jessie played with Gurmukhi words

Artist Jessie Sohpaul turned the Punjabi word Jugni (firefly) into a firefly. Check out how he did it.​
He explained his intentions for this piece: "The past couple of weeks have been emotionally tough - watching the news and feeling helpless with what’s happening on the other side of the world. Light up the dark - as we approach Diwali, a firefly seemed best to illustrate this message."

---

I'd love to feature you playing and creating!

To potentially get featured, send me a photo of any art you made recently. It can be a photo or painting, a basket you weaved, a doodle you scribbled, a journal entry or an article you wrote. All kinds of art counts. I'm also looking to feature personal perspectives from diverse folks on navigating your personal healing as well as collective healing for your communities, neighbourhoods, and cities.

Keep playing,
Aayaan 🧙🏼‍♂️