Message from the Co-Founder & CEO

Some months ago, Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels came to me and said, "You know, there's an aspect of Activity that I held off including when we first described it Hanna Arendt wrote about PLAY in The Human Condition, and I wasn't ready to include it (I think many of us were still getting our heads around labor as 'not a bad thing'). I'm now ready. It's time we amend the narrative of Fulfill to include play "

I had two gut reactions: The first was like a bygone child was being summoned to invent, explore and create The second was letting go of my death grip on being a grownup

We've since modified our diagrams so that "Activity" has replaced "Labor, Work, & Action" as the narrative for Fulfill. Now, when we think "Activity", we can include the narratives of "Labor, Work, PLAY, & Action " The Summit explores why play matters and how we reclaim it

John Patterson Co-Founder and CEO

Since I began leading programs in 1992, my purpose has been to help people live the life they imagine. For many of us, that includes a world of satisfied, successful people living balanced lives on a healthy planet that recognizes and respects the diverse worldviews that make up our global society.

Why Play Matters

Hannah Arendt believed that play was an essential part of human activity, and she described it as a way for individuals to experience freedom and creativity. In her book "The Human Condition," she argues that play is distinct from other forms of activity because it is done for its own sake rather than for any practical purpose.

Arendt believed that play is a way for humans to create new possibilities and explore new ideas. She saw play as a form of "world-building," where individuals create new rules and structures that allow them to explore new ways of being in the world. Play, according to Arendt, is a way for individuals to escape the confines of their daily lives and to experience a sense of liberation and freedom.

Furthermore, Arendt also argued that play is a necessary part of political life. She believed that in order for individuals to engage in political action, they must first learn to engage in playful activities that encourage imagination and creativity. Play, in this sense, is a way for individuals to build the skills and capacities they need to participate fully in public life.

Overall, Arendt viewed play as an essential part of human activity, one that allows individuals to experience freedom, creativity, and the possibility of building new worlds. We agree.