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Why We Need More Play, Recreation, and Leisure in Our Lives

The author Stuart Brown, M.D., details the intriguing encounter between a twelve-hundred-pound Polar Bear and a Canadian Eskimo sled dog in the book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.

The dog, staked near a camp, suddenly spots a polar bear approaching. It’s November, and since the sea is not yet frozen, bears haven’t been able to hunt for seals. In other words, this particular bear is starving. The bear continues toward the dog, seemingly sizing up its next meal. But something strange and unexpected happens. The dog, obviously outmatched by a long shot, bows its head and begins wagging its tail. The bear then approaches the dog in a loping manner, and a moment later the two of them are wrestling with each other. An acrobatic dance of sorts commences in the snow, the two softly nipping at each other and pulling on each other’s fur. After about 15 minutes, the bear departs, seemingly uplifted by the friendly and playful encounter, even if still emaciated and hungry.

The bear could have easily devoured the dog to satisfy its pangs of hunger, yet there was another, more powerful impulse that it acted on, a desire that was greater than its own survival.

It was the desire to play.

Play is a common activity among many animals, especially mammals with high cognitive abilities such as canines, felines, dolphins, primates, and, of course, human beings. Playing is built into our very nature. While this may not be a revelatory finding, and even though most of us would admit there is something inherently good and nourishing about play and recreation, many of our behaviors indicate otherwise. Children today play much less than children did only a few decades ago, mostly because of the heightened importance placed on achievement and the preparation for adulthood. And for adults, play and recreation has given way increasingly to societal pressures to be ever more productive. We may admit that time spent in play and recreation is important, but most of us feel it’s also superfluous, perhaps even unessential to our lives.

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However, it turns out that play, recreation, and leisure are necessary for a full and flourishing life for a host of reasons. Beyond the physical and mental benefits — and there are many — they can even draw us closer to God.

• Play, Leisure, and Recreation 

When we think of play as adults, unless we are referring to participation in an organized sport or performance, we don’t normally use the term play. There is a specific type of play that children engage in that adults don’t. There are certain social and psychological developmental reasons why play is particularly important for children. However, if we widen our definition of play to include what we would consider recreational or leisurely activity, then we see that human beings continue to play their entire lives. In his book, Brown defines play as having the following properties: “apparently purposeless activity (done for its own sake), voluntary, inherent attraction, freedom from time, diminished consciousness of self, improvisational potential, and continuation desire.”

With this in mind, much of the activities we do can be seen as play: from playing an instrument to writing poetry to watching a movie to making jokes to dancing at a party. In fact, the arts themselves — music, film, literature — are a complex and highly developed form of play. This doesn’t mean art can’t also have other purposes — such as being morally or culturally illuminating — but that at our core we create and engage art because, in some sense, it’s fun.

With this in mind, much of the activities we do can be seen as play: from playing an instrument to writing poetry to watching a movie to making jokes to dancing at a party.

We don’t need to be told about the value and necessity of work. Yes, work is necessary, and in order to put bread on the table and a roof over our heads we admit that we must work. It’s one of the first questions we ask our children: what do you want to be when you grow up? And while we don’t necessarily expect them to have an answer — or end up doing what they say they will — we’re already priming them to think about work. On the other hand, play, recreation, and leisure are seen as ancillary — things we can do without if we had to. However, similar to a lack of play in children, a lack of recreation can have grave consequences for adults.

Max Butterfield, Ph.D., PLNU professor of psychology , pointed to the role of recreation in rejuvenating us and calming us down.

“We often find ourselves very stressed all the time, and so our cortisol levels are way up,” Butterfield said. “This has negative downstream consequences.”

Increased and prolonged cortisol levels can lead to lack of sleep, digestive problems, headaches, lack of energy, and even high blood pressure and heart disease.

“For most people, the only way to de-stress is to have some form of leisure activity,” Butterfield explained, citing that it has been proven that recreation can calm us down and make us more healthy. “Without leisure built into our everyday lives, we’re always going to be fighting this losing battle against cortisol.”

Brown comes to a similar conclusion about the health benefits of play, writing that “many studies have demonstrated that people who continue to play games, who continue to explore and learn throughout life, are not only much less prone to dementia and other neurological problems, but are also less likely to get heart disease and other afflictions that seem like they have nothing to do with the brain.”

There is actually a term in Japanese, “karōshi,” which translates literally to “overwork death.” People in Japan, South Korea, and China have died due to stress-induced heart attacks and strokes from extreme work without rest or recreation. Ultimately, a complete absence of play, recreation, and leisure can even be fatal.

• A Sign of Our Humanity 

Aristotle placed great importance on recreation, or as he called it, leisure. In fact, he believed that we needed to have time for leisure in order to be fully human (therefore, those in his society who only worked without time for leisure were to him incapable of being fully alive). While today we may use the term leisure to mean mindlessly vegging out on the couch or tanning on some breach, leisure, for Aristotle, was specifically the engagement in some activity that allowed for human flourishing — the discussion of philosophical concepts, the listening to music, the reading of poetry. Leisure was not merely the absence of an activity, or even the lack of work, but rather an active posture of receiving and being.

Ultimately, a complete absence of play, recreation, and leisure can even be fatal.

The German philosopher, Josef Pieper, Ph.D., wrote a book titled Leisure: The Basis of Culture where he explicates the necessary character of leisure in helping us achieve our potential. Without leisure and recreation, man is not more than an animal that works, sleeps, and eats. He writes:

“Leisure is the condition of considering things in a celebrating spirit. The inner joyfulness of the person who is celebrating belongs to the very core of what we mean by leisure… Leisure is only possible in the assumption that man is not only in harmony with himself…but also he is in agreement with the world and its meaning. Leisure lives on affirmation. It is not the same as the absence of activity; it is not the same thing as quiet, or even as an inner quiet. It is rather like the stillness in the conversation of lovers, which is fed by their oneness.”

Mark Mann, Ph.D., PLNU professor of theology , admits there is a relationship between leisure — the way ancient philosophers understood it — and recreation. In fact, he would use another term to define the type of fruitful recreation that we’re all called to: Sabbath.

“Sabbath, I would say, is purposeful. Rather than something that is open and vacuous, its purpose is to allow a focusing on God,” Mann said. “There’s also a sense of worship, so in a sense, Sabbath is the fulfillment of creation, the whole purpose of creation, the whole purpose of our existence. Sabbath, I think, as it’s intended by God, is therefore intended to be an intentional, restorative experience.”

Mann pointed to a form of intentional recreation that he participates in on Sundays: gardening. By being outside, trimming his rose bushes, and nourishing the plant life over which he has watch, he is rejuvenated. But Mann also realizes this form of intentional recreation that renews him and draws him closer to God may be anything but recreational for someone else. For others it might be reading a book, going on a long mountainous hike, or listening and dancing to music. However, if done with a spirit of freedom and alignment to God — even if not always conscious — such forms of recreation can be spiritually restorative.

Mann sees this type of leisure as something similar to Sabbath, where we purposefully put aside certain tasks in order to be present to God in a celebratory and rejuvenating frame of mind. This proves true on a biological level, since play, leisure, and recreation have been shown to be restorative to the body. But it isn’t only something that restores us so we can work more, it is the participation in being. Play and recreation can be celebratory, allowing us to live out our created humanity. But can play, recreation, and leisure go too far?

• A Life of Only Fun and Games? 

Many Christians in the past have struggled with the role of play, recreation, and leisure in their lives. To some, including John Wesley, all of our free time should be spent in direct and explicit devotion to God. If you had time to play, then you had time to pray, do spiritual reading, or serve the poor. Sam Powell, Ph.D., a PLNU professor of theology, explains that Wesley once gave serious thought to whether one could enjoy the taste of grapes or the smell of a rose without incurring temptation. Wesley settled on yes, though only with caution.

Powell looks to the Puritans, a group of people well known for their commitment to rooting out any semblance of pleasure that stemmed from anything other than God.

“In Elizabethan England, the Puritans were very negative about the theater,” Powell shared. “There were some valid reasons for it, it could be obscene and so on, but the whole idea of the theater rubbed them the wrong way. For them, they were not here for entertainment, but had a higher calling.”

Any idle hour that could be wasted on trivial activities like fun and games could be spent instead serving God.

“There was a real emphasis on careful stewardship of time. God had given us this time, and so we’ve got to use it in a wise way,” Powell continued. “So a rather long list of seemingly innocuous activities were just regarded in tremendous suspicion or total rejection: card playing, pool shooting, theater, secular music, all that stuff. Not just because it might have a bad effect on your character, but also because you should be making better use of your time.”

There is still much suffering in the world, and a focus on play, recreation, and leisure at the expense of working to alleviate suffering is disordered.

Of course, sentiments have changed since, and activities like attending the theater and playing board games aren’t likely to draw a disdainful eye from even the most ascetical of Christians. Yet, this fear of play still has roots in how many Christians worship and live their lives. There is good reason for some of this, as certainly life isn’t only about play, recreation, and leisure. There is work that needs to be done, both materially for our livelihood and for the Kingdom of God. There is still much suffering in the world, and a focus on play, recreation, and leisure at the expense of working to alleviate suffering is disordered. Additionally, not all forms of play, recreation, and leisure are good, and some can certainly devolve into unhealthy, dangerous, and unvirtuous activities and behaviors. However, like all things related to the spiritual life that require prudence and temperance, it seems that play, recreation, and leisure should not be shunned altogether as trivial and wasteful or extolled immoderately at the expense of God and neighbor.

• Play as Prayer

Is there something we can learn from our play, in participating in a state of being that isn’t overly concerned with what “use” we have to others? It is difficult because in working we place great value on our productivity, but when we play, though we might lose or win in a certain sense, we don’t speak in terms of productivity. We don’t say this game was successful because it produced an adequate amount of rejuvenation, or that this joke was optimal because it made me laugh to a specific degree. When we play, we simply do it for the sake of doing it — we are ourselves when we play and remain unconcerned with sheer productivity.

While we say there is no purpose from a productivity standpoint, it seems play can still be purposeful in celebrating our humanity and the joy of creation. A life without play, humor, art, and music would not be a life at all, but it’s exactly in these moments that aren’t “productive” — where we’re present to simply being and enjoying — that we may best honor God.

C.S. Lewis echoed this notion, arguing that things “like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself” have no survival value but are among “those things which give value to survival.” Reframed in this way, play, recreation, and leisure may simply make life worth living.

Powell believes that sometimes as Christians we have focused too much on a disembodied spiritual life and not enough on our physical life. After all, God did create us to be both body and spirit — and to live as a full human we are to be both fully alive in body and soul.

“In the Christian tradition we’ve emphasized we’re made in God’s image, with a lot less attention paid to the fact that we’re also like the animals in certain ways,” Powell explained. “What if we take that seriously? What if we take seriously the notion that humans are beings who are intrinsically playful? Just look at the phenomenon of jokes. What a weird thing. People tell jokes and in fact we have a professional class of people, that’s all they do and we give them money to create jokes and make us laugh. Is that something significant we should think about?”

Hence the creation is God’s play, a play of his groundless and inscrutable wisdom. It is the realm in which God displays his glory. —Jürgen Moltmann, Ph.d.

Powell alluded to the mystery that is inherent in our desire to play and celebrate our humanity in ways that don’t have some blatant productive outcome. This is similar to the circumstances under which God created the world — not because he had to for some reason, but because he wanted to for his own delight. In Jürgen Moltmann’s book, Theology of Play, Moltmann sees God’s creation of the universe as a divine form of play, writing:

“When [a human being] creates something that is not God but also not nothing, then this must have its ground not in itself but in God’s good will or pleasure. Hence the creation is God’s play, a play of his groundless and inscrutable wisdom. It is the realm in which God displays his glory.”

Our capacity to play may be something that reveals our humanity and allows us to be more fully the mysterious and beautiful creatures that God created us to be. And, at the exhortation of St. Paul, perhaps our play, recreation, and leisure can be but more ways for us to pray without ceasing.

• Putting Play to Work

If you are interested in a career helping individuals, families, or groups unlock the power of play in their lives, consider earning your master's degree in  Clinical Counseling , Integrative Wellness , or Kinesiology  at PLNU. If you would like to know more, please  contact us . If you are ready to  apply , this is a great time, and we are ready to help every step of the way.

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“All Work and no Play make Jack a dull boy” goes a popular saying.

The significance of this saying has increased manifold in today’s fast-paced and competitive world where students are forced by both their guardians and the conglomerate of society and situations as a whole to devote increasing hours in academic learning , whether theoretical or practical and knowledge enhancing activities so that they can stay ahead in the rat race. Add to that the present way of life where people mostly stay in small nuclear families and with parents working, the viability of our own home as a place where we can have recreational time has diminished.

What is recreation?

Recreation consists of activities or experiences carried on within leisure, usually chosen voluntarily by the participant – either because of satisfaction, pleasure or creative enrichment derived, or because he perceives certain personal or social values to be gained from them. It may, also be perceived as the process of participation, or as the emotional state derived from involvement.

Students, especially in higher education, now spend most of their time with college friends and outside of home for various purposes and work. Hence, in the current scenario, the best place to include recreational activities in one’s life is one’s place of education rather than at home. This not only provides a chance to include recreations in one’s life, but also helps students to socialize and become less dependent on one’s parents.

Before analyzing the effect of recreations in educational curriculum, it is important to know the impacts and necessity of recreations in one’s life as a whole. Due to the intricacies in present day society and the way of living, students nowadays are weaker than their older generations, both physically and emotionally. This gets reflected in their physical, emotional and mental health as well as their behavior and development which all the more calls for bestowing on recreations the importance that it deserves. Various studies have shown the importance of recreations on one’s life specifically in three aspects- physical health, mental health and improving quality of life.

• Physical Health : Recreational activities, especially outdoor ones improve one’s health like maintaining lower body fat percentages, lowering blood and cholesterol levels, increasing muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition and cardiovascular endurance. Overall it increases one’s stamina and energy level resulting in more focus for academic activities besides also having an impact on one’s class attendance and attention thus leading to more learning. And as we all know “health is wealth”.
• Mental Health : Mental health is essential for overall physical health. Recreational activities help manage stress. It provides a chance to nurture oneself and provides a sense of balance and self-esteem, which can directly reduce anxiety and depression. There is also an increased motivation to learn as it can serve as a laboratory for application of contents learnt in classrooms teaching. It provides a channel for releasing tension and anxiety thus facilitating emotional stability and resilience. Such activities help students to become more self-reliant, emphatic and self-disciplined.
• Improved Quality of Life : People who make recreation a priority are more likely to feel satisfied with their lives overall, according to an American Recreation Coalition Study, 2000. Recreational activities help create a balance between academic pressures with physical and mental well-being. The effects of recreation are multifold. It enriches self-expression, self-fulfillment ability, interpersonal skills, techniques and methods of using leisure, physical strength, creative expression, and aesthetic sense. Such attributes have a favorable effect on human beings who have limits in everyday life. Therefore, recreation is allowed to be used as a tool of therapy (Lee, 2000). Physical activity-based recreation helps participants recover from the deteriorated physical strength, caused by the lack of exercise, and develops the latent ability to achieve self-realization. This also helps people to deal with common day to day problems more effectively as it makes people more optimists and with a positive outlook to life.

Coming to the point of including recreational activities in educational curriculum, it can be said that the present generation spends less of their time in natural surroundings leading to a weakening of senses both physiologically and psychologically. Guardians, academic institutions as well as the government should find out every possible opportunity to include recreations in a student’s life for an overall holistic development of mind and body. If such opportunities are lessening in a home set up, then it should be part of the educational curriculum where a student spends majority of his/her time. In fact, recreational activities in an educational set up will be academically more enriching for the student in many ways:

• Students are more enthusiastic to learn in outdoor learning activities as compared to traditional indoor setting and also more motivated. They also develop a better attitude towards the environment and more responsible behavior
• It helps in building communication skills and team building as students have to work in groups to solve problems. There will be more discussions of ideas and feedbacks and helps students to resolve conflict among themselves
• It also helps in boosting memory as there is more practical experience and the information can be soaked up wholly by the brain in a more fresh and fascinating environment
• It also helps in moral development as students get the opportunity to undertake leadership, question actions and regulations and accept responsibility for their own behavior.
• Enhances peer relationships and interpersonal skills. Students can also excel in areas other than academics where they have an interest. Recreational activities can give a chance to discover talents other than academic excellence which can later help one in the career and life as a whole.

Overall it can be said that, recreational activities help in overall development of a student’s physically, mentally, and emotionally. It not only helps to gather knowledge but to use it ethically to lead a healthy and better life. It teaches one to think with reason and live with a more practical approach to life. It also enhances ones all round development, thus helping to achieve success in ones endeavors.

About the Author

Ms. Rituparna Devi is currently working as Junior Batch-in-Charge in Pune Institute of Business Management. Prior to this, she has worked as an Assistant Project Engineer in IIT Guwahati for 1.5 years. She holds Bachelors of Engineering Degree in Electronics & Communication from Tezpur Central University, Assam and MBA in Finance from National Institute of technology, Silchar.

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Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation Essay

Introduction, definition of leisure and recreation, impacts of leisure and recreation.

Leisure and recreation are different concepts but always seem to go hand in hand. People tend to use them in the same breath as if the concepts cannot exist apart from each other (Difference Between, 2012). They can and actually exist apart from each other. This essay seeks a deeper understanding of the two concepts and their impact on lifestyles.

Leisure relates to that free time at the disposal of a person in which the person can do what they feel like doing away from the routine (Veal, 1992). It is a condition of the mind marked by the time without obligations coupled with willing optimism (Veal, 1992). Leisure does not posit an activity; it can be the absence of activity too (Veal, 1992). At such times, an individual is not under any compulsion to do a particular activity but has discretion to choose (Veal, 1992).

Recreation, on the other hand, is the experiences and expeditions a person chooses to pursue at the spare time (Merriam-Webster, 2013). The experiences and expeditions chosen by the individual give an individual energy to resume routine duties. (Veal, 1992). In relation to leisure, recreation is any activity performed during leisure time and includes shopping, hiking among others (Veal, 1992).

Deriving from the above distinction, leisure is the time at one’s disposal to perform the non-routine activities and is usually rooted in the mind. Recreation is a pursuit that an individual engages in during leisure time. Recreation is an activity of leisure (Human Kinetics, 2013).

Concerning health, recreational activities enable an individual to relax by giving a pacifying wellness to the nerves (scilifestyle, 2012). Moreover, it helps an individual to vent out tension and conserve equilibrium. Recreation reduces stress too and enables the individual to keep minor ailments at bay (Definitions of leisure, play, and recreation, 2013).

On the social aspect, recreation affords social benefits to an individual as it enables the individual to encounter likeminded friends and build healthy relationships with them (Recreation, n.d.). Likeminded people are likely to come up with mutually beneficial ideas or activities and this enables the group members to achieve things the individual would have never achieved alone in their routine activities. Such initiatives include visiting the less fortunate members of the society as a group or coming up with an investment or welfare groups.

Leisure activities have an impact on the economy too. Such activities include tourism activities, visiting amusement parks and restaurants. This helps in building the economy through fees and costs incurred because more business means more revenues to the government and growth in development. Leisure is the fastest growing industry in United Kingdom (Osborne, 2010). In addition, when leisure groups meet and start investment groups, it boosts both the individual and state economy.

Leisure time affords people to catch up and participate in the political sphere of life (David). This happens through group meetings where members seek to inform others or get information during their meetings. It is also commonplace for governments to declare public holidays on days the citizens cast votes. This is leisure time, which enables the individual to perform the civic duty of electing public officials.

Finally, leisure activities have an impact on the culture in the sense that it provides a platform for cultural exchanges and learning. When tourists visit different places, they learn a lot from the host communities. Some have remained behind in tourist destination areas and adopted the local culture (David, Web).

Recreation activities are significant to both the individual and the community. For such activities to take place, leisure is necessary.

Brightbill, C. K. (1960). The challenge of leisure . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Difference Between Leisure and Recreation . (2012). Web.

David. Activity and Leisure . Web.

Definitions of leisure, play, and recreation. (2013). Human Kinetics . Web.

Recreation. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online. Web.

Osborne, A. (2010). Leisure could be one of UK’s fastest growing industries, if Government takes it seriously . Web.

Scilifestyle. (2012). The importance of recreation . Web.

Veal, A. J. (1992). Definitions of Leisure and Recreation. Australian Journal of Leisure and Recreation, 52. pp. 44-48. Web.

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Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines.

Recreation, leisure and sports.

• Introduction

Like culture and art, recreation, leisure and sports activities play an important role in communities. Their many benefits include improving the health and well-being of individuals, contributing to the empowerment of individuals, and promoting the development of inclusive communities. Recreation, leisure and sports activities may involve individuals, small groups, teams or whole communities and are relevant to people of all different ages, abilities and levels of skill. The types of recreation, leisure and sports activities people participate in vary greatly depending on local context, and tend to reflect the social systems and cultural values.

Participation in recreation, leisure and sports activities may be one of the few opportunities people with disabilities have to engage in community life beyond their immediate families. The right to participate in these activities is highlighted in the box below . As with culture and art, people with disabilities may choose to participate actively (e.g. as team members of a basketball team), or passively (e.g. as spectators at a football match).

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 30, paragraph 5: Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport ( 2 )

With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an ongoing basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to a) encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels; b) have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities; c) have access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues; d) ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities; e) have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities.

BOX 19 Morocco

Using sport for social inclusion and personal development ( 9 ).

The project Sport as a Tool for Social Inclusion and Personal Development was launched by Handicap International in Morocco in 2007. A survey previously conducted (in 2004) by Handicap International had estimated that more than 1.5 million Moroccans had disabilities, and the purpose of the programme was to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to be involved in sports and address inequalities in access to rehabilitation, health care and social integration.

The programme focused on three areas:

• Capacity-building and networking of Moroccan institutions – programme staff worked closely with the Royal Moroccan Sports Federation (specialists in mainstream sports but with limited expertise in disability) and around 600 Moroccan disability associations specializing in health and education for people with disabilities, assisting them to develop strategic, national and international partnerships. Support was also offered to small projects and sports clubs for people with disabilities by offering training in management skills, project development, proposal writing and fundraising.
• Provision of adapted sports equipment – including wheelchairs, appropriate clothing, and adapted equipment, e.g. balls which make noise for the blind.
• Organization of inclusive sports events – a number of sporting events were held. These included an event to mark the International Day for Disabled Persons, and the Race for All, which attracted approximately 2000 runners both with and without disabilities. A high profile football tournament for players with disabilities was also held; it was sponsored by the King of Morocco and the final game was broadcast on national television to an audience of approximately 20 000 people.

The programme achieved a number of impacts:

• 1500 people with disabilities were reached through sporting clubs and regular sporting events;
• people with disabilities gained access to quality services, including appropriate technology and equipment and trained personnel who can advise them;
• people with disabilities gained access to opportunities to meet and interact with others of all abilities.

People with disabilities participate both actively and as spectators in recreational, leisure and sporting activities on an equal basis with others.

• The role of CBR

The role of CBR programmes is to promote increased participation of people with disabilities in recreation, leisure and sports activities; and provide support to mainstream organizations and programmes to enable them to strengthen their capacity by offering appropriate and accessible recreation, leisure and sports activities.

• Desirable outcomes
• People with disabilities participate in recreation, leisure and sports programmes available in the local community.
• Local, national and international authorities and associations include people with disabilities in their recreational, leisure and sports programmes.
• Families, teachers and community members recognize and actively promote the right and ability of people with disabilities to take part in recreation, leisure and sports activities.
• People both with and without disabilities are involved together in recreation, leisure and sports activities.
• People with disabilities are able to access recreation, leisure and sports venues.
• Equipment used for recreation, leisure and sports is adapted where needed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
• Recreational, leisure and sports programmes and activities are developed specifically for people with disabilities where required.
• Key concepts

Definitions

In this element:

Recreation refers to all those activities that people choose to do to refresh their bodies and minds and make their leisure time more interesting and enjoyable. Examples of recreation activities are walking, swimming, meditation, reading, playing games and dancing.

Leisure refers to the free time that people can spend away from their everyday responsibilities (e.g. work and domestic tasks) to rest, relax and enjoy life. It is during leisure time that people participate in recreation and sporting activities.

Sport refers to any type of organized physical activity, e.g. soccer, rugby, football, basketball and athletics.

Recreation, leisure and sports in the community

In many low-income countries where people work every day just to survive, the concept of leisure time is not always well understood and nor is it a priority. Indeed, many activities that are considered recreational in high-income countries are considered a means of livelihood in low-income countries, e.g. fishing and handicrafts.

In most communities the type of recreational and sporting activities people participate in are determined by age, gender, local context (e.g. rural vs. urban) and socioeconomic status. For example, children in poor communities are likely to play games using natural materials, such as sticks or stones or using discarded manufactured items like tyres and rope. Leisure time is also likely to be based around cultural activities, such as traditional dance, storytelling, religious festivals and events, and visiting entertainment troupes.

In many poor and rural communities there are no designated places for people to spend their leisure time, such as community centres and sports stadiums, so it is common for people to gather in places of worship, tea shops, houses and open spaces.

Communities in low-income countries often have pressing priorities and limited budgets. As a result the development of formal recreation and sports activities/programmes is usually dependent on donors. It is important that external funding is carefully managed to ensure that the programmes/activities introduced are appropriate to the local context.

The benefits of participation

Participation in recreation and sports activities can have many benefits for both the individual and community.These include:

• health promotion and disease prevention – recreation and sports activities are an enjoyable and effective way to improve health and well-being; they can relieve stress, increase fitness, improve physical and mental health, and prevent the development of chronic diseases, such as heart disease;
• skills development – physical and social skills are some of the many skills that can be developed through participation in recreation and sports activities;
• awareness raising, reduction of stigma and social inclusion – recreation and sports activities are a powerful, low-cost means to foster greater inclusion of people with disabilities; they bring people of all ages and abilities together for enjoyment, and provide people with disabilities the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and abilities, and promote a positive image of disability;
• international peace and development – sport is a universal language that can be used as a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religions ( 10 ).
• empowerment – recreation and sports activities can empower people with disabilities by positively influencing their self-confidence and self-esteem.

BOX 20 Eritrea

War veterans become role models.

In Eritrea, war veterans with disabilities received training to work as football team managers and trainers so they could play a key role in implementing children's football activities, involving more than 2000 children, in the capital city of Asmara. This involvement has changed the way the war veterans view themselves, and has positively influenced the way in which children view people with disabilities, while providing positive role models for other people with disabilities. Building on this success, the sports club is now providing football training to deaf children as a first step in the inclusion of children with disabilities in its sports activities.

Recreation and sport are complementary with other opportunities

While the many benefits of recreation and sporting activities have been highlighted, it is important to remember that they should not be used as a substitute for limited access to other opportunities, such as education or livelihood.

BOX 21 Afghanistan

Bicycle training.

The Afghan Amputee Bicyclists for Rehabilitation and Recreation (AABRAR) programme in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a bicycle training programme for people with amputations, to improve their functional mobility and independence and enable them to travel to and from work and save on transportation costs.

Enabling access to recreation, leisure and sport

Reasonable accommodation may be necessary for some people with disabilities to participate in recreation and sporting activities. With a little creativity and flexibility, activities and equipment can be adapted at minimal or no cost to ensure the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities.

Adapting sporting activities

Adapting the rules or point scoring systems of games can allow people of different abilities and ages to play together at no cost. Using local materials to make cheap adaptations of equipment, e.g. using a dried gourd with grains to make a ball that makes a sound, or pairing players to play together, can increase the participation of all community members.

• Suggested activities

Identify local recreation, leisure and sports opportunities

A first step is to identify what recreation, leisure and sporting opportunities already exist in and around the community. CBR programmes should work closely with community groups, e.g. youth and women's groups, children's clubs, and people with disabilities, to identify these.

Facilitate the participation of people with disabilities

Activities are successful when they are: requested by individuals and communities, culturally appropriate, enjoyable and fulfilling for participants, and not too costly to develop and sustain. To facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in recreation and sporting activities, it is suggested that CBR programmes:

• provide information to people with disabilities about the recreation and sporting opportunities available in their local communities;
• link people with disabilities to mainstream recreation and sporting clubs/associations;
• ensure children with disabilities have the same opportunities as other children to participate in recreation and sports activities at school;
• explore options for personal assistance to enable people with disabilities to participate, whether actively or passively;
• facilitate positive media coverage of disability recreation and sports to encourage more people with disabilities to become involved.

Use recreation and sport to raise awareness about inclusion

Major events, such as the International Day of Disabled Persons, can provide opportunities for raising awareness, from national to local level, about the need for inclusive recreation and sporting activities. These events often attract positive media attention, which can raise awareness across a wide audience.

BOX 23 Pakistan

The blind cricket world cup.

Following successful local and national media coverage of the Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan, some CBR programmes saw an increase in the number of parents asking about educational and leisure opportunities for their visually impaired children.

Encourage mainstream programmes to become inclusive

Often mainstream recreation and sports programmes have not considered including people with disabilities. CBR programmes can work with these programmes to explore how to make their activities accessible to all. CBR programmes can:

• consult with national and international organizations to ensure that programmes are culturally and geographically specific, and available to people with disabilities of all ages, abilities, and genders living in urban and rural settings;
• provide ideas and suggestions on how to safely adapt activities, equipment and venues, emphasizing that many activities can be adapted at minimal or no cost;
• facilitate training for staff of mainstream programmes to develop their skills and confidence to include people with disabilities;
• advocate alongside disabled people's organizations to ensure that recreation and sporting opportunities become available and accessible for people with disabilities.

Publications such as the Fun and inclusive handbook ( 11 ) and Sport, recreation and play ( 12 ) provide further information and examples on how inclusion can be supported in low-income countries.

School sports days

CBR programmes can encourage and support school sports days that offer opportunities for inclusion. These sports days can increase awareness and understanding among school- aged children by offering opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities to play sports together. The events are a positive experience for everyone involved including the children, parents, teachers, volunteers and sports officials. They can positively challenge attitudes and beliefs about disability and increase awareness about the sporting abilities of children with disabilities.

Develop and support disability-specific programmes

Disability-specific programmes provide opportunities for people with disabilities to meet other people with disabilities, and enable them to compete against others who are at a similar skill level. CBR programmes can:

• ensure that people with disabilities are leaders and play a strong role in the decision-making process during programme development to make certain that recreation and sports programmes are suitable for their needs;
• provide appropriate training and resources to support people with disabilities who want to set up their own recreation and sports groups/clubs;
• link local disability recreation and sports groups/clubs to national and international organizations, e.g. the International Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disability, the International Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics International, and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.

Box 25 Bangladesh

Connecting through chess.

One of the largest networks of visually impaired people in Bangladesh is a Braille chess club, which has a network of clubs that reaches throughout urban and rural areas. This network provides opportunities not only to compete and develop skills but also to socialize and link with people of similar interests.

All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: tni.ohw@sredrokoob ). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: tni.ohw@snoissimrep ).

• Cite this Page Khasnabis C, Heinicke Motsch K, Achu K, et al., editors. Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. Recreation, leisure and sports.

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Essay on Recreational Activities

Students are often asked to write an essay on Recreational Activities in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Recreational Activities

What are recreational activities.

Recreational activities are fun things we do in our free time. They help us relax and enjoy. They can be anything from playing games, reading books, to going on trips. They are important because they make us happy and keep us healthy.

Types of Recreational Activities

There are many types of recreational activities. Some people like outdoor activities like football, cycling, or swimming. Others enjoy indoor activities like reading, painting, or playing board games. Even watching a movie or listening to music can be a recreational activity.

Benefits of Recreational Activities

Recreational activities have many benefits. They help us to stay fit and healthy. They also improve our mood and reduce stress. They can make us more creative and help us learn new skills. They also give us a chance to make new friends.

Choosing a Recreational Activity

Choosing a recreational activity depends on what we like. It’s important to pick something we enjoy. We should also consider how much time we have and if we need any special equipment. It’s a good idea to try different activities to find out what we like best.

250 Words Essay on Recreational Activities

Introduction.

Recreational activities are fun things we do in our free time. These can be games, sports, hobbies, or even just hanging out with friends. These activities help us relax, enjoy, and learn new skills.

There are many types of recreational activities. Some people like outdoor activities like football, cycling, or swimming. Others enjoy indoor activities like reading, painting, or playing video games. What’s important is to choose something you enjoy!

Recreational activities are not just fun but also very good for us. They help us stay fit and healthy. They also make us happy and reduce stress. For kids, these activities can also help in learning teamwork and improving skills.

Choosing the Right Activity

Choosing the right recreational activity is important. You should pick something you love to do. This way, you will enjoy it more and want to do it often. Also, try to pick something that fits your age and health.

In conclusion, recreational activities are a great way to spend your free time. They are fun, healthy, and can help you learn new things. So, go ahead and find the activity that you love the most!

(Word Count: 200)

500 Words Essay on Recreational Activities

Introduction to recreational activities.

Recreational activities are fun things we do in our free time. They are not work or chores, but things we enjoy. These activities can be anything from playing sports, reading books, to painting or even just going for a walk. They help us relax, have fun and learn new things.

There are two main types of recreational activities: indoor and outdoor. Indoor activities can be things like reading, drawing, playing board games, or doing puzzles. These are great for rainy days or when it’s too hot or cold outside. Outdoor activities can include things like playing sports, going for a hike, or exploring nature. These are great for when the weather is nice and you want to be outside in the fresh air.

Recreational activities have many benefits. They can help you relax and feel less stressed. They can also help you learn new skills and make new friends. For example, if you join a soccer team, you can learn how to play soccer and also meet new people. Recreational activities can also help keep you healthy. When you’re active and moving around, it’s good for your body.

Choosing the Right Recreational Activity

It’s important to choose a recreational activity that you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t want to do it. Think about what you like to do in your free time. Do you like to be active and play sports? Or do you prefer to relax and read a book? Once you know what you enjoy, you can find a recreational activity that fits you.

Importance of Balance

While recreational activities are fun, it’s also important to have balance. This means not spending all your time on one activity. For example, if you love playing video games, it’s good to take breaks and do other things too. This can help you avoid getting too tired or bored.

In conclusion, recreational activities are a great way to have fun, learn new things, and stay healthy. They can be anything you enjoy, from sports to reading to art. It’s important to choose something you enjoy and to have balance. So go out there and find a recreational activity that you love!

Note: This essay is a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of recreational activities, suitable for school students. It uses simple words and phrases, and is organized into distinct paragraphs that touch on different aspects of the topic. The total word count is exactly 500 words.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Why Recreational Activities Matter and How You Can Utilize Them

November 19, 2021 Family-Friendly Activities

Recreational activities are essential for many reasons. One reason is they can help you stay healthy and meet your fitness goals. Another is that recreational activities allow you to spend time with friends and family in a fun and safe way.

There are plenty of recreational activities that people can engage in. Examples include fishing, dancing, gardening, and playing sports. It is up to people to choose the kind of recreational activity they want to invest in.

Why Recreational Activities Are Important

We all know that it’s important to take some time away from work and stress, but many other things compete for our attention. Recreational activities are essential because they help us relax, relieve stress, and improve our moods. They also give us a break from everyday life, making it easier to stay positive during stressful times. The best part is that they don’t have to cost much money or require a lot of preparation.

Below are the reasons why recreational activities are essential in our lives:

Recreational activities help fight off stress

Recreational activities help people fight off stress because they give them something positive to focus on. When we are doing recreational activities, our minds don’t have time to think about the stresses of everyday life, and it is easier for us to relax.

For example, a person who loves fishing might think about the next fishing trip or spend their day off looking for spinning reels from Penn and other equipment to add to their collection. Instead of thinking about stressors, a person can focus on recreational activities instead.

Having recreational activities is vital for mental health and a healthy lifestyle

Many people do recreational activities as part of their jobs, which means they can be beneficial for professional reasons. For example, some athletes use recreational sports like hiking and biking to get away from competitive pressures while staying in shape.

There are recreational activities for every age group, too. Whether you’re doing recreational activities by yourself or with your family, there’s sure to be something that will interest everyone in the household. Families that engage in recreational activities are more likely to stay healthy and happy together.

Recreational activities help people stay positive in tough times

When challenging situations arise in our lives, recreational activities can make a huge difference in improving our moods. Therefore, people should find a recreational activity that can help them stay positive when times get tough.

For example, recreational activities such as yoga and meditation can help people work through tough emotions. People who are having a difficult time finding recreational activities that they enjoy should consider trying new things. This way, they will have more things to look forward to in the future.

Recreational activities help people socialize

Socializing is important for people because it helps them form connections with people in their community. If someone is having a hard time socializing, engaging in recreational activities is the perfect way to make friends and spend time getting better acquainted with different people.

It has been shown that people who interact with others more often tend to do better in school and at work. They also perform tasks more efficiently than those who spend most of their time alone. People can get together for recreational activities, which will help them stay healthy and happy throughout life.

Recreational activities allow people to have fun

People need to invest in recreational activities if they want to have fun. Working all the time will not allow people to be able to let loose and have fun. Recreational activities are important because they provide recreational relief for individuals who want nothing more than to relax after a long workday.

Recreational activities are vital because they provide individuals with recreational relief after work. Recreational activities such as sports and games allow people to relax by doing something that requires a lot of energy. This is ideal for winding down at the end of the day. This recreational relief allows people to reenergize themselves and feel ready enough for the next day.

Recreational activities help make people’s lives more exciting

Another great thing about recreational activities is that they can help make people’s lives more exciting. For example, recreational activities such as traveling and exploring new places will allow people to see the world from a new perspective. As a result, they make their lives more exciting and fun.

Investing in Recreational Activities

People who invest in recreational activities tend to live longer and healthier lives. Recreational activities give people something to look forward to every day. Therefore, it is worth it for people to invest in recreational activities.

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The Many Community Benefits of a Recreation Center

• Posted by jumpsix2
• on December 11, 2018

Ways a Recreation Center Can Benefit a Community

A recreation center can be an essential part of any community, providing great value to its citizens. When life gets busy, it can be easy to take these benefits for granted. In today’s blog, Sports Facilities Management encourages you to take a break from your busy schedule and look at some of the wonderful benefits of your community recreation center.

A recreation center’s main purpose should be to provide opportunities for active living and recreation in a safe, inclusive environment. By creating a positive atmosphere, community recreation centers become essential to personal health and wellness. The social bonds that are created at recreation centers help build strong, safe and inclusive communities.   Also, after-school programs can help families in the community, and they offer at-risk youth a positive and constructive environment.

A Culture of Wellness

A recreation center should provide convenient and fun opportunities for the community to stay fit. Physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of disease, improve physical health, and support mental well-being. Furthermore, regular physical activities lower the risk of injuries and premature death. A healthy, active community is a happy one.

Social Responsibility

A recreation center can do wonders for the environment. By acquiring, protecting and managing natural spaces, these organizations boost the environmental wellbeing of the entire community. A recreation center can offer socially responsible leadership in the community.

Reduce Stress

Positive recreation experiences can decrease stress. Leisure activities provide people with the opportunity to expel energy. According to a Gallup Poll for Health, people who exercise regularly are 2.5 times more likely to report that they are happy.

Contact Sports Facilities Management to Learn More

If you are interested in developing a recreation facility, contact the experts at Sports Facilities Management. We offer point to point development and management services for development and management of day to day operations. Learn more by calling us at (727)-474-3845.

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In 1972, I began working as an activities therapist in an in-patient psychiatric unit treating emotionally disturbed patients, drug addicts, and older adults with dementia.  I found that my program could add invaluable behavioral information to the treatment team helping them correctly diagnose problems and track improvement over the course of hospitalization.  My observations were critically important because I had continuous contact with patients, and the other members of the team did not.  Patients frequently shared hidden fears and thoughts as we worked individually or in groups because they perceived my modality of service as non-threatening, and enabled me to develop good rapport.  Some of our recreation programming was specifically geared toward reducing stressors, improving physical health, connecting patients with loved ones at home, and enhancing social skills that would help them adjust to living outside the hospital after discharge.  I found my work challenging and intense at times because of the nature of psychiatric illness, but it was always exciting and appreciated by our clients.

Conclusion:  I saw TR as a modality that could provide valuable diagnostic feedback and as a respite from the intensity of psychiatric illness as clients experienced it. 

In 1973, my husband and I began working with disadvantaged youth.  We volunteered at the local detention facility and worked in a Catholic parish in an area of town called Plateau where the last ship of slaves was brought to the United States from Africa in the early 1860s.  These families, while extremely poor, had a wonderful sense of their roots.  Recreation was the vehicle that we frequently used to take the children outside their usual environment in order to see new possibilities and gain experience interacting with other economic groups.  During the summer, I accompanied inner city youth to camp settings where we focused, through recreation, on improved self-image, communication, and socialization skills.

TR jobs were available in those days with the disadvantaged.  Sadly, however, they evaporated for the most part during the eighties and we are now playing catch up via new recreation initiatives aimed at gang prevention and anti-recidivism.  I learned from these experiences that TR is an incredibly effective vehicle for educating children about the importance of leisure and recreation as a life long source of healthy behavior.  We call this leisure education.

Conclusion:   TR holds the ability to develop skills in children and youth that can diminish the negative affects of poverty, create potential for sound and healthy behavior, and bridge the gap between economic groups that often keep people unaware of their similarities to others.  I also learned that the value of work with a specific population should never be tied to financial support for that work from either government or insurance agencies.  Work with the poor should never go out of style or become politically unpopular.  Support for this work within our field must remain a priority.  Since many of these youth are at risk for legal trouble and eventual incarceration, it is especially critical to teach them recreation skills that have the potential to keep them away from dangerous situations involving drugs or violence.

In 1976, with the premature birth of my twin sons, I found it necessary to stop working full time.  I had been concerned for years about the condition of nursing homes and the lack of quality TR services found in most institutions.  I started a long-term care consultation practice that lasted over fifteen years.  It enabled me to elevate the level of skill needed by staff in nursing homes to successfully address physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs.  I learned, as well, the value of spiritual growth as residents struggled to combat feelings of abandonment, helplessness, and isolation.  In this setting, group activity promoted community and a feeling of being at home with others.  However, nothing compared to the quiet moments at the bedside of patients too ill to get up.  I found this to be rewarding work because it enabled me to experience my patients as unique individuals whose quality of life could only be defined by them.  I learned that an inability to function didn't necessitate a poor quality of life and that internal peace and happiness spring from being valued by others and finding meaning in one's daily life.  The truly wonderful thing about therapeutic recreation is that by its very nature it honors and nurtures autonomy and meaning.

Conclusion:   TR contributes not only to improved functioning but also to the more essential human experience - meaning and value.  Additionally, TR has the ability to nurture autonomy.  Helping individuals who must live in institutional settings to express their uniqueness force staffers who care for them to honor their dignity as persons.  TR humanizes nursing homes and assisted living facilities, making them more home-like places to live. 

In 1978, my twin sons required surgery, and I was appalled by the lack of child-centered activity at our pediatric unit within our general hospital.  Since the university owned this hospital, I decided to attempt to create a child life program there.  This type programming addresses the psychosocial needs of children and families so that the trauma of sickness and hospitalization is minimized and normal developmental growth can occur.  My initial offer to the administrator to voluntarily design the program was met with disinterest.  It was a good idea but not the right time.  You, too, may have many good ideas about therapeutic recreation programming but find that they fall on deaf ears until others, particularly clients, speak up for TR.  Finally, a few years later, I linked up with some other interested families and professionals to help create a new children's and women's hospital.  My TR students have been part of this program for over ten years now, and the hands-on experience with the children is incredible.  Children in the hospital who are acutely or chronically ill need two kinds of play:  that which addresses particular medical concerns (needle, surgical, or procedural play) and normal developmental play to counteract the negative affects of hospitalization. 

Conclusion:   TR specialists are often hired in pediatric child life settings.  Their job is to use play to address particular medical needs and to help children express their fears and feelings.  Additionally, age appropriate developmental play helps children normalize their experiences and offers a respite from the more difficult challenges of illness and treatment. 

For the past twenty-five years my husband and I have been affiliated with a community called L'Arche (a French word meaning the Ark.)  This is an international movement based on the premise that able-bodied assistants living in community with persons who have developmental disabilities are a sign to the public at large of the value of persons with disabilities.  There are approximately 100 L'Arche communities around the world, each taking on the cultural and spiritual characteristics of their environment.  In Mobile, the community is Christian, so the core members and assistants live out their commitment to one another in context of the beatitudes.  We truly find that we are blessed by their friendship and warmth.

I clearly saw the value of TR in the L'Arche community many years ago when I showed a film to my students about a trip that L'Arche Canada took to France with over 4,000 people.  Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche, noted that everyone needs something to look forward to, to experience, and to look back on as a memory.  Recreation at L'Arche centers on the creation of a family atmosphere, but each core member develops individual recreation interests and skills that dovetail with goals for independence and self care.  L'Arche's recreation is unique in that core members and assistants are able to connect with the larger L'Arche family via trips and conferences making even long distance friendships easy to develop. 

Conclusion:  Persons with developmental disabilities are living actively in our communities as never before.  TR can be used in the school setting to provide leisure education and build recreation skills that offer life long enjoyment and social experiences to children and adults.  In addition, recreation provides a common ground where able bodied and differently abled children and adults can interact meaningfully, creating respect and opportunities for understanding. 

During the summer of '96, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  It was a time to face the fear of death and come to grips with the reality of a serious physical illness.  I was fortunate in 1978 to have met Dr. Elizabeth Kübler Ross, a physician who wrote extensively about death and dying and who laid important groundwork for palliative care for the dying.  So far, his cancer has been arrested by surgery, but I was reminded through our ordeal of the vital importance of TR in the hospice setting when we felt our own time together possibly running out.  We have five children, all of whom share our philosophical belief that nothing is more precious than time, so it should be spent on the things that mean the most.  In our case, that means family, and we have planned many recreational experiences over the years with our children so they will have great memories of our family life. 

When I work in TR with hospice patients, I remind them that while it may seem absurd to seek the services of a TR specialist in hospice, the very word leisure means freedom, so we work to maximize the freedom to make choices about how one's time is spent when time is of the essence. 

Today I offer my services to persons who are dying by helping them to make videotapes for their families, especially if they have young children.  Using an expressive arts medium like video, I believe people facing death can tell their stories, make meaning of their life experiences, and can leave for their children gifts of wisdom, advice, support, and love.

Conclusion:  In reality, our leisure experiences should be healthy and life giving through all the years that we live.   When we consciously reflect on experiences to make meaning of them for our personal growth and happiness, we contribute to our own therapy.  In the sense that recreation heightens our awareness of this and creates the ability to generate self-acceptance, love, and enjoyment in life, all recreation is therapeutic.  The help of people educated in therapeutic recreation principles and practices allows those we serve to better access this therapeutic value.

On Super Bowl Sunday, 1997, one of my closest friends suffered a stroke and was admitted to a rehabilitation hospital for therapy after being stabilized medically.  For years I have taken students to the physical rehabilitation setting to work with persons who have had spinal cord injuries, strokes, joint replacements and the like.  This was my first chance to be part of the family's viewpoint of therapy and to see from start to finish the whole process with one patient. 

When the physical rehabilitation team works well together, the patient sets goals that are realistic and achievable, and the team uses all its skills to lay a course toward those goals.  It is a long process for most patients, and TR's contribution is to accompany the patient through it, keying in on recreational interests that have been sources of personal motivation for the patient in the past.  Those valued recreation experiences that can be enjoyed again form a base of familiarity and success for the patient.  Some illnesses, however, present great barriers to patients who must then look to new sources of leisure and recreation to prepare for life with a disability.  The TR specialist helps the client identify new and potentially enjoyable interests and then proceeds to teach the skills and adaptations necessary to make them part of the client's life. 

During rehabilitation, patients must confront the outside world again learning to successfully deal with a variety of obstacles.  The TR specialist takes the client back into the community to practice techniques learned in therapy and to gain the confidence to negotiate the tasks of everyday living after discharge.  Because therapy is a long process, many patients form close personal bonds with their therapists as they work from a state of dependence to independence.  Making this transition requires the TR specialist to connect the client to resources in the community where physical healing, socialization, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual growth can be nurtured.  In the best sense, the client learns to "re-create" his true self, letting go of the past and moving ahead either to total recovery or a meaningful life in spite of a disability.    I asked my friend to speak to my Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation class and was happily surprised to learn that he had plans to resume his hobby of traveling this summer.  He used the Internet to make his travel arrangements, and with only the use of a cane, toured the northern tier states by train during the month of July.  Though 74 years old, he had a determination characteristic of men half his age, and his love of recreation continued to contribute to his well being for the remainder of his life.

Conclusion:  TR in the physical rehabilitation setting is usually part of an intensive, functionally oriented process.  We are fortunate as therapists in being able to help clients develop recreational strategies for use after discharge when exercises and activities must be continued without the presence of the physical, occupational, and speech therapists.   We believe that clients are more likely to continue rehabilitation exercises if the context in which they do them is enjoyable. Rehabilitation from physical illness goes beyond simple functioning, however.  We Afunction@ in order to do something beyond functioning, i.e., to enjoy life.  Ultimately, outcomes that are linked to one’s spirit, often called Aexistential,@ must be addressed, too.  TR is a wholistic approach to wellness, and happiness is an experience that may require physical preconditions, but certainly does not stop there.  Some of the most exciting work done in TR in physical rehabilitation settings is done in this realm of existential outcomes.                                                            

A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS

When I assumed my first job in TR in 1972 I could not have articulated what I believe is the essence of therapeutic recreation.  An African American woman in the Plateau neighborhood put it well when she said, "You can't be what you don't see."  New students need experiences that allow them to see TR in action and to connect personally with recipients of our services.  One woman at a local rehabilitation hospital replied when asked what TR did for her,  "The physical therapist helped me learn to walk, but you asked the essential question - where do you want to go?" 

You can see that my own understanding of TR has been solidified over years of experience in a variety of settings and client groups.  My own philosophy of TR leads me to celebrate our diversity of service rather than lament a seeming lack of focus on one population or one modality.  When I am with my colleagues, what I enjoy most is hearing about new ways of meeting needs in our communities - using TR services with persons who have AIDS, developing home health plans involving family recreation, or adding TR services in our public schools for students in special education programs.  TR defies our attempts to package it neatly or to briefly "say it all," not because we have nothing specific to contribute but because the nature of what we do is as unique and varied as the people we serve are. 

So, when people ask me what I do, I tell them how fortunate I feel to be able to devote my life to helping people find meaning and personal satisfaction through choices that they make with their time.  I tell them that recreation and leisure should be critically important to all of us, and our mission is to spread their value. I tell them that, in the end, what really makes life meaningful are the experiences that give us joy, and our work with those whose lives have often been affected by loss, suffering, illness, disability, marginalization, and alienation is extraordinarily good and valuable.  I believe that our purpose is grounded in the spiritual value of leisure, which I see as the freedom to become our truest selves. That=s not a destination but a process.  Those of us who work in the field of TR are privileged to accompany people in the process of personal development and growth.  We operate as guides, advocates and, hopefully, friends, but let us never forget that the ultimate power to change, mature, and discover happiness lies within each person, not acquired like a product, but nurtured like a flowering seed.  

If you have browsed the web in search of information on TR that might help you discern if it is a field of interest to you, I recommend that you contact some of the people whose names appear with various Internet sites.  Also, call TR specialists in your area to inquire about therapeutic recreation programs in your vicinity.  If you are a student already enrolled in a TR program and want to increase your contacts with other students and professionals working in the field, tell your teachers that you have found this paper on the Internet and want them to help generate more information on the field for others like you.  Ask your teachers to share their personal philosophy of TR with you and encourage them to invite professionals working in the field to do the same. 

Thank you for permitting me to share my own experiences with you.  It is my hope that you will be open to similar opportunities to expand and deepen your understanding of therapeutic recreation.  Should you make this field your own, I would welcome you as a colleague and friend.  In the meantime, please feel free to share your academic journey with others over the net.

Cathy O'Keefe University of South Alabama Dept. of HPELS Mobile, AL 36688 Phone: (251) 460-7131 Fax: (251) 460-7252 E-mail:  cokeefe @ usouthal.edu

Cathy O'Keefe, M.Ed., CTRS, has been an instructor in therapeutic recreation at the University of South Alabama since 1975.  She has served on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification and as the chairperson of the Ethical Practices for the National Therapeutic Recreation Society and serves as the Alabama representative for NTRS.  She also holds membership in the American Therapeutic Recreation Society.  

Mrs. O'Keefe has worked in adult psychiatry, in residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities, with acute and chronically ill children in hospital pediatric medicine, with nursing home and assisted living residents, and with persons who are dying.  

The primary focus of Mrs. O'Keefe's professional writing lies with emphasizing the ethics of caring; the need to address suffering; the role of spirituality in habilitation and rehabilitation, and; how existential outcomes of happiness, joy, inner peace, and meaning positively affects the quality of life.  

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