i was talking to a friend the other day, and it felt like we were kids playing in a sandbox. “here’s the shovel, this happens if you put sand on it.” figuring things out, building up hypothetical structures and then tearing them back down again.
this friend and I like to play in the same sandbox. we talk about consciousness, psychology and emotion. when we talk, it’s in a roundabout way that doesn’t expect answers, asks a lot of questions, and feels like a game.
it occurred to me that we’re all kids playing in sandboxes, and the sandboxes are ones of our choosing. [1]
recently I’ve been dipping my toes into several. for example: the business sandbox. what does it mean to create something of value from literally nothing? I think i previously felt resistance to this sandbox. my boyfriend, on the other hand, loves this one. it feels less “safe” than the consciousness one, but the psychological thrill is larger and the “real world stakes” higher.
and the artist’s sandbox: what does it mean to express oneself in a way that conveys something to others? this one feels simultaneously vulnerable and powerful.
and the identity sandbox: what does it mean to be a woman, a partner, a founder, a writer?
there are many, many sandboxes to choose from. none are inherently any better than the others. some look like they’re more interesting than others. i’ve stumbled across a few that are much more fun from the inside than i expected.
when you find others in the same sandboxes, things get really interesting.
ultimately they are just sandboxes. games you choose to play.
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[1] and, you’re always playing in some, consciously or not, whether or not you like it.
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