Enjoy Your Leisure to the Fullest

THERE IS NO GOOD REASON for free time to ever be dull or boring. Quite the contrary! Rather than thinking, "I'm bored - I have nothing to do," alter your mind-set. Consider leisure as a gift of time. Think about all the possibilities of what can be done when you are free from necessities, obligations, and responsibilities - even if only for an hour! The decision to change your way of thinking regarding free time can change your life.

I have attempted to practice this principle - even before I was old enough, or wise enough, to realize that it was a good idea! As a kid, during those hours after school, on weekends, or during summer vacations, I almost always had plenty of fun activities to fill-up my free time after homework or assigned chores around the house. At times this meant inventing some game to play by myself. At other times, play was enjoyed in the company of other kids in the neighborhood or with friends.

As an adult I enjoyed my jobs, and my work - even my vocation, and my career! But, I have always looked forward to time away from these necessities. Taking days off, and fully enjoying holidays and vacations was never a problem for me! In fact, doing so made my return to the obligations of life much more palatable. Getting back to the regular required routine was not only more manageable, but could be done in a more refreshed, happy, and productive manner.

Now, in retirement, my hours of leisure are greatly expanded! The freedom of very seldom being on a schedule, and to be able to do most anything I choose - at any time - is truly wonderful. And, once again, there is no good reason for free time to ever be dull or boring - even in retirement. There are a numerous possibilities of things to do in those free-time hours which can bring great joy - and a rejuvenated spirit.

At whatever age you find yourself, enjoy your leisure to the fullest!
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In the photo above, the author, and Blog creator, is enjoying his leisure.

Fountains of Creativity: Painting

JAY B. NASH, a recreation philosopher and educator, believed that the highest and very best use of leisure (time free of obligations and responsibilities) is when a person is engaged in creative activities. While we may not all agree with this idea completely, perhaps we should still consider the fact that involvement in an activity which causes us to focus our minds on the task at hand could be, at the very least, a good use of leisure.

There are many different types of activities which could be classified as creative. However, one of the best avenues for creative expression is through painting. Whether it is finger-painting for little children, or working with oils or watercolors for teens and adults, painting provides opportunities for fountains of creativity.

Consider this scenario: an artist, with brush in hand and an array of colorful paints nearby, sits in front of a blank canvas and begins to paint a picture of a landscape. With a variety of brushes and colors of paint, the artist carefully transfers the image of the mind's eye to the canvas. And, before long, the lines, the shape and structure, the design, the colors, and the image of what was in the artist's mind and imagination is being reproduced in a form which others can also see. The creative juices are flowing! What was once nothing but a blank canvas, is now really something - an expression of the artist's inner-self - a painting of a landscape. Wow!

Painting offers an escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. It gives the opportunity for refreshment and restoration of body, mind, and spirit. It has the capacity to rejuvenate the inner being! It is an excellent form of creative activities, and a great way to spend free time. The old expression, "try it - you'll like it," may seem trite, but could well be true regarding this particular leisure activity.
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-- In the photo above, watercolor artist Kay Jackson displays her paintings in an art show. She has studied under artists Robert and Sharon Long of Destin, Florida.

Walk the Beach!

OUR BODIES are made to move! After being reclined and stretched out in a bed for eight hours or more to get our necessary sleep and rest, we need to move about. A life in bed or sitting in a chair not only gets boring, it is not good for any of us. We need physical movement - and as much as our bodies will allow. When we are young, most of us are able to stand, walk, jump, run, and have our fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet in motion for extended periods of time! However, at some point the aging process begins to slow us down. This occurs, of course, at different times for different people. If at all possible, we need to keep pushing this slow-down process further and further out in front of us. With good practice, some of us will be able to continue lifestyles which are very physically active well into our senior years.

One activity, health and medical professionals claim, is the very best kind of physical exercise: walking. And, most of us - except for disabled individuals - can do it! Yes, the distance we will be able to walk comfortably will differ, but with reasonably good health, walking can be a lifetime activity for all of us.

There are numerous places where we can walk: at our homes; down the street, around the block, at the mall, around the track, at the gym, at the golf course, or on the trail. Perhaps one of the best places, however, to consider walking is the beach!

Walking the beach provides us with the opportunity for exercise, of course, but with additional benefits as well. On the beach we are able to feel the sand between our toes; we are able to cast our eyes out over the water; we are able to hear the sounds of the surf, and we are able to take in all the other sights, sounds, and smells of the natural environment. Oftentimes, we are able to enjoy warm rays of sunshine. On some beaches we are able to feel the cool breezes from the ocean and perhaps pick up some seashells!

As a great physical exercise, as a direct benefit to your health and well-being, and as a excellent choice of a leisure activity, walk the beach!
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The beach pictured above is in Destin, Florida