Lego My Sanity!

Tiny Lego Lawnmower

OK. I admit it. I play with Lego building blocks. No, it’s more than that… I’m a “Lego-Maniac”. Seriously, I find them fascinating, fun, entertaining, and they have some kind of very child-like primal connection for me. So let’s crack this Lego nut open and see what’s inside, shall we?

Tactile

Lego Lex Luthor

The first thing that comes to mind is that playing with Lego is a tactile experience. Unlike many other things in our modern, digital age, these toys are truly “digital”. They exist. They have size, weight, color. While I enjoy recording audio, blogging, and even making videos, none of these is really “REAL”. In contrast to Lego blocks, the things I deal with every day exist in a virtual way. They can easily be copied, edited, deleted. They are ephemeral in comparison to actual objects, and because of that, their value can sometimes be hard to grasp. Not so with the bricks. They are. When you make something with them, it is 100% real.

Sense of Accomplishment

Lego Farnsworth House

When I complete something using Lego bricks, I find I have a great sense of accomplishment. This relates directly to their tactile “Real” nature (see above). I started with raw materials, followed a set of instructions (or improvised), and ended up with a tangible, 3-D, hold-it-in-my-hands creation.

Play, Creativity, Imagination

Lego UFO!

Building with Lego bricks often fills me with a sense of wonder. It’s quite amazing how such a simple toy can be assembled into increasingly complex structures. They inspire a sense of play. Far more than just following a diagram, or building an Ikea cabinet, Lego bricks fan the flames of creativity and imagination. What a wonderful way to spend some time!

Focus

Lego Haunted House

I’ve also noticed that while I’m constructing I have a razor sharp focus. It’s akin to being “In The Zone”. Time passes in a different manner. I have experienced similar states of focus while programming and acting. When you’re “In The Zone”, you know it, and so do those who view your work afterward. It’s nice to find a simple toy that can get me into that state of mind with so little effort.

Complexity from Simplicity

Lego Fallingwaters

When you open a Lego set, you get a bunch of simple bricks, and a set of simple instructions. If you’ve never seen them, the instructions are really impressive! Just pictures of bricks, some numbers, and images of the project at each stage. Simple enough for kids to follow, but able to produce some amazingly complex structures. Sometimes when life seems to be overly complex, I think about the Lego sets. Simple bricks. Simple rules. Simple life… It only looks complex.

How Do You Play?

Lego Buildings

Play, creativity, and inspiration can all spring from the same well. How does play-time fit into your life?