“Youth has no age” .—Pablo

Drifting in my little dinghy beside a grassy island, I come across a river otter and two young fishing for dinner. The mother turns on a dime, like a streamer in the water, then dives beneath the surface and pops back up with a fish in her mouth. The little family slips through the river grass leaving a trail of waving greenery behind them, as if they were playing hide-and-seek with me.

Otters love to play. They belly-flop on snowy or muddy hills and zoom to the bottom, usually to get somewhere fast, but occasionally over and over again in what can only be called play. Today, it is generally accepted that animals play, though two decades ago most scientists didn’t believe so. Now it appears that some animals may spend more time playing than most people do.

Try this: jot down a list of ways you like to play. Activities might include a bike ride through the fields, sharing a joke with a co-worker, a quiet talk with a loved one, and doing something special for yourself. Now put play at the top of your “to do” list, if you must, the same way you remind yourself of other priorities. Post a reminder on your refrigerator door the same way you post a reminder to buy milk. Choose one of the items from your play list, and enjoy fitting it into your day.