My Idea of Leisure
Lauren Graham
This picture was taken last summer, the season I find most enjoyable for the mere fact that it is the most convenient time of year for my idea of leisure. It was taken before the start of the Woodriver Sprint Triathlon with a group of friends that I keep in contact with while training. We’re showing off our race numbers in the transition area, which is where everything joins together. This is where I will jump on and off of my bike… after I swim and before I run.
I like to spend my free time being active. I sometimes prefer to work towards a goal, like a triathlon, and especially when I can do it with the support of a group of friends. I was never good at any sports when I was younger due to a lack of any coordination, and never thought of actively taking care of my body until college when I realized now should be the easiest time of my life to get in shape. Instead of clicking though channels on the television each night when I’m finished taking care of responsibilities at home, work, or school, I head somewhere to be active. Training for a triathlon is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle. I have to watch what I eat, be well rested, stay on top of my responsibilities, be careful not to strain my body too much, or let myself become a couch potato. If you can’t tell, I side with what we learned from class and in the textbook readings as the Greeks philosophy that leisurely activities lead to personal development or growth. In my case, it helps me grow stronger physically and mentally during any sort of physical activity. For others this may be baking, drawing, or assembling cars. “To each his own.”
My personal definition of leisure is what you choose to do with your free time. It is not simply what you let happen during your free time, but rather what you consciously choose to take up time. I think it should naturally follow that what you choose to fill this time will aid to personal growth, whether it is physically active or not. Just as it is a necessity to go to work, do school assignments, visit the doctor, and clean the house to get though life, it is just as necessary to find something personal to fill your free time with to make life into a meaningful and enjoyable experience.
