Can I play?

One recess, a young boy stands on the sidelines of a basketball game.

"Can I play?", he yells to the other boys who ignore him.

Desperate for attention, he jumps up and down in a futile attempt to display his abilities.

"Can I play?", he beckons.

Another boy walks up and simply watches the first boy's antics.

The second boy thinks to himself for a moment then looks around.

He notices that there is an old, abandoned basketball sitting against a nearby tree.

He also notices that there is a smaller, rundown basketball court right next to the one where the other boys are playing.

A few moments later and the second boy is shooting baskets while the first boy is still trying to get the other boy's attention.

"Can I play?", the first boy yells to no avail.

After about 30 minutes, the bell rings and recess is over.

They all line up for the teacher.

While in line, the first boy schemes about how he's going to get noticed and hopefully get a chance to play.

The second boy, on the other hand, thinks about next recess and all the fun he's going to have shooting hoops.

What happens next is anyone's guess.

Persistence may pay off for the first boy. But then again, it may not.

The second boy gets to play basketball every day, even though he's not in the Big Game.

While both boys would like to play in the Big Game, the first is more enamored with being in the Big Game than playing basketball.

The second boy doesn't ask permission to play. He simply plays.

Why?

Because he loves the activity not the accolades of the activity.

So, if you truly want to do something, e.g. make a film, paint a portrait, write a book of poems, then don't ask others,

"Can I play?"

Just do it.