ABSTRACT
The sunlight playing on the waves qualifies for the attribute 'playful' because it faithfully remains within the rules of the game. "Play" can mean "a recreational activity", "a particular manoeuvre in a game", "brisk, fitful, or light movement", "unimpeded motion", "the stage presentation of a story", "to fiddle with something", and so on. In being playful, an individual takes a temporary leave of the constraints of reality, knowingly enjoys the pleasure of "absurdity", and, in the process, lets his authentic self emerge. The origins of playfulness can be traced to the earliest period of infancy, when the social referencing and pleasure in the discovery of new relational and conceptual patterns make their first appearance. Playfulness can include the use of humor and irony, affectionate kinds of teasing, banter and repartee, joint fantasy, and a host of other possibilities.
