When I was much younger, before the days of computers, I used to create floor plans on paper of houses I imagined. Huge bedrooms with private bathrooms, intricate pools with snack bars, cat rooms, dog rooms, double staircases, elevators, etc. Basically, anything my young, middle class heart desired.
I never lost that love of creating homes, but I did lose the...habit? of doing it very often.
Enter: Sims 4
My kids play Sims 4, and I love when they give me "house tours" of their creations. Kid 1 prefers to focus on what a house looks like from the outside, and Kid 2' focus is on the the inside and the configuration of rooms, stairs, and hallways. Seeing both kids create these houses and buildings in a virtual world brought back that desire to make my own "imaginary homes" again, and give young-me a digital upgrade. About a year ago I saw that the game (just the base game, not any of the extras) was for sale for something crazy like $5, so I finally took the plunge.
Yup, I'm a 39 year old, mother of teenagers, and I play Sims 4.
I'm not really into the "gameplay" aspect of it - relationships, telling the Sims to go to the bathroom, or practice their comedy, or any of that. While I do like the pets aspect, my main focus is building and decorating. It's just so satisfying (especially when my own house is a wreck)!
One day a few months ago I decided to recreate a home I used to live in. I looked at old photos, google maps, and search online for other photos, so that I could get the details as "right" as possible. I would work on it a bit while watching TV, or listening to an audiobook, a bit here and there.
About halfway through I realized something: I felt lighter in my mind. I felt like I'd worked through some issues from my past. Building the house constantly brought up old memories - the good, the bad, the boring, the ugly. I don't know the "therapy words" for it but...it is as though something changed by looking at memories through the lens of who I am today, now, currently.
I tried it again and again, "building" other houses from my past, and each time I had that same sort of mental shift.
I don't know what kind of therapy type this would come under - play therapy? art therapy? - but whatever it is, I recommend trying it yourself.
I never lost that love of creating homes, but I did lose the...habit? of doing it very often.
Enter: Sims 4
My kids play Sims 4, and I love when they give me "house tours" of their creations. Kid 1 prefers to focus on what a house looks like from the outside, and Kid 2' focus is on the the inside and the configuration of rooms, stairs, and hallways. Seeing both kids create these houses and buildings in a virtual world brought back that desire to make my own "imaginary homes" again, and give young-me a digital upgrade. About a year ago I saw that the game (just the base game, not any of the extras) was for sale for something crazy like $5, so I finally took the plunge.
Yup, I'm a 39 year old, mother of teenagers, and I play Sims 4.
I'm not really into the "gameplay" aspect of it - relationships, telling the Sims to go to the bathroom, or practice their comedy, or any of that. While I do like the pets aspect, my main focus is building and decorating. It's just so satisfying (especially when my own house is a wreck)!
One day a few months ago I decided to recreate a home I used to live in. I looked at old photos, google maps, and search online for other photos, so that I could get the details as "right" as possible. I would work on it a bit while watching TV, or listening to an audiobook, a bit here and there.
About halfway through I realized something: I felt lighter in my mind. I felt like I'd worked through some issues from my past. Building the house constantly brought up old memories - the good, the bad, the boring, the ugly. I don't know the "therapy words" for it but...it is as though something changed by looking at memories through the lens of who I am today, now, currently.
I tried it again and again, "building" other houses from my past, and each time I had that same sort of mental shift.
I don't know what kind of therapy type this would come under - play therapy? art therapy? - but whatever it is, I recommend trying it yourself.
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