social activities, how can the spa industry help spread the idea of play?
companies looking for“ playful” team members? DS: Have your Human Resources personnel learn the details of taking play history on all prospective employees. Then, be sure to hire those who have integrated play well into their lives, and they will contagiously provide that to the customers.
P: How can we bring play into the daily work setting and turn it into a vehicle for innovation and creativity? DS: When authentic play is understood deeply by upper management, and the joy of the work itself can be experienced as being as important as measurable outcomes, the measurable outcomes such as employee and customer satisfaction and return of business will likely occur.
P: What’ s the best lesson you’ ve learned from your childhood play experience? DS: Stay true to what provided uncluttered joy in your childhood; only transmute it [ in order ] to work wherever and whatever life throws at you.
P: How do you live the spa lifestyle? DS: If I lived in Minnesota, I’ d be a regular at The Marsh which is a place to fully rejuvenate. I am also a regular at a local tennis club. It is my second home, and I integrate this with other passions that keep me engaged as fully as possible [ in order to ] live what I hope is a productive and useful life. n
P: When you feel the need to play, where’ s your playground? DS: I am fortunate to live in Carmel Valley, California where access to nature is at my doorstep, so regular hiking and biking are my play joys. Being a grandparent has allowed me purity of play without the baggage of being a“ responsible” parent. And my local tennis club is full of like-minded [ individuals ] whose banter and enjoyment of the game floods my life regularly.
P: If you could spend your playtime with an inspiring or creative person, who’ s your idea of a great playmate? DS: Wonderful question! There are many who come to mind immediately. I just revel in the [ idea ] of time spent with Brian Swimme, the warm-hearted gravitational physicist and author of The Universe Story. I have fun with him, and leave time spent with him inspired emotionally and spiritually.
My grandson Leo, whose joy in living and exuberance prevents any creeping atheism, with whom the truth of the importance and nature of play gets experientially certified. The 10 years of professional and personal contact with [ American writer ] Joseph Campbell resonates daily and provides inspiration to always be open to the novel, the patterns that make the world make sense.
As an industry that promotes the concept of wellness through body and
social activities, how can the spa industry help spread the idea of play?
Since authentic play is a“ state” and not tied to a particular activity, the personalization of what really allows a spa attendee to achieve that state is an important aspect of the spa experience. Movement and rhythm may be the key for one; meditation and being pampered and massaged is another [ way to achieve a state of play ]. Social interchange and challenge is another. We all have our own personal play quirks and personalities. Understand them and spa patrons will be ecstatic.
June 2012 n PULSE 19