Blog Summary #3

Now that this course has come to a close, i must admit that there were things that i learnt about myself. I was a little apprehensive when i first entered this course, thinking to myself, "I know what leisure is, i don't need to be educated about it"...Boy was i wrong! Well, let's start with the basics,shall we?

Coming into the course, i thought leisure was another term for recreation, but i learnt quickly that it is not. So, let's just say that right away i realized that i may not have all the answers, and should probably pay close attention on how to become leisure educated in class. It paid off big time now that i look back at my previous blogs and blog summaries. For example, i know now that there is such a thing as serious leisure, which i can discuss now in relation to following my beloved yanks, and having watched their season go down the tube, and even monitoring the sale of the old seats from the stadium for cheap prices. I also learnt that since one definition of leisure is a state of mind, invloving perceived freedom, freedom to choose and freedom from, i was able to leisure at a party celebration at work, even though it started out through extrinsic motivation (i wanted to keep my job and get paid), but later turned into something intrinsic.

I know that family is what keeps me going when times are tough, and now that i have looked back on my blog entry about helping my parents webcam with my nieces and nephews, i am even more convinced that leisure can be found by all. At that point in time, i felt i was educated about leisure to the point where i was educating others on opportunities for leisure. And again, all it took was a few minutes out of my day, because i was so convinced of it's importance in my life, that I wanted to help educate my parents on how they could be strengthening their social connections, by knowing how to use webcam, and that they could use it to talk to relatives all over the world.
Now that this course is over, i am more confident in my abilities to design a leisure education program, with the goal of educating others and allowing them to understand how they can value leisure in their life. I know now that simply doing leisure is not leisure education, unless it is to learn skill sets. Leisure is definitely becoming a significant topic in my life as a result of this course and i am realizing this by re-reading my older blogs.I also am more educated about what i DON'T consider to be leisure, such as typing a 16 page research proposal for another class, or creating a group adaptivity project.

I also know that i have made significant gains in leisure, by allowing it to encompass my culture beliefs and values as well. I never considered practicing shofar blowing (blasting of a ram's horn on the Jewish New Year) to be leisure until i took this course, but i was intrinscially, (and somewhat extrinsically) motivated to practice learning how, even though it was difficult the first few times. i value it even more now that i have seen it's importance in my life and that if i simply put my mind to it, i can find leisure in the spiritual realm of life as well.

Csikszentmihalyi (as cited in Datillo, 39)refers to flow as, "a state of deep concentration and loss of conscious attention to the surrounding environment". This past weekend, at my friends rink hockey party, although it was semi-serious game, once i got skating, I was actually able to get into a state of 'flow' during parts of the game, where i was matching my skill set with the challenge presented to me, so that i was in a 'zone' and time was passing by before my very eyes. And how could i forget playing basketball at the Y, when i was stressed with school and upcoming papers, where i was able to be free to choose this leisure activity and separate myself from educational obligations (albeit it for one night a week).

I can definitely say that after these past 12 weeks,leisure has been bumped up on my list of important things in life, now that i am fully educated about it's significance and the opportunities that exist all around me to be able to discover leisure, and help other people who may not have seen the leisure 'light' yet. As a wise bear once said, "Only YOU can prevent leisure ignorance...or was it forest fires?"
Happy Vacationing!!

Happy Birthday

This pasty weekend i helped celebrate my good buddy's birthday with a bunch of friends, in a pretty interesting way. He rented out an indoor hockey rink Saturday night just for a bunch of his friends and family so that we could eat, drink and play some hockey...not necessarily in that order though! it was a really awesome time, besides the fact that we were all there to help him celebrate his champagne birthday, but it was the laid back fun, yet somewhat competitive hockey. Half of us were on skates, some on foot and not being a real big skater, i haven't really played hockey in a rink with boards. Word to the wise...don't try stopping by grabbing onto someone else's shirt, it ain't pretty! Even his little nephew was our goalie! I was very much pysched up for the last few days because i haven't done this with my buddy probably since high school, so it was definitely a leisurely experience, and intrinsic motivation was sky high. And the food was pretty good too afterwards! Maybe i should take up hockey in a serious leisure type of way from now on! I don't even have the proper gloves for it, so i am still lacking in that department, but i do still like to follow the sport and cheer for the Habs when they do win.

Just Do It

Well, i finally did, i went back to the JCC this weekend to exercise and play a little basketball. I had been doing that on a regular basis before school started in Sept. but i haven't gone since then i think. Talk about money down the drain for 3 months. I have been putting it off, telling myself i am too busy and have more important things that need to be taken care of first. then i finally realized that i need to put time aside for this so that i can excersise and get rid of some stress and built up school anxiety. I was really motivated to go, and although i didn't feel totally free as i drove there knowing that the work would be waiting for me when i got back, i did feel freedom to choose how i would leisure and that this signalled a break from my daily school/work routine. Yup, the work is still piling up as finals approach, but i needed to find time for my leisure, otherwise it would never come.

Shofar... So Good

Our final class was this Monday night on shofar blowing. It seems like it just started three weeks ago, which it did, but now its done until a few months time. I have tried so many times to blow shofar on my own but i have never been able to, and if there is one thing that's holding me back from learning, it's the fact that i haven't found anyone willing to teach me how. That's all changed, and i was really motivated to get started and although my skill set was non-existent, i still went into the classes internally motivated, hoping that i would come out of it knowing at least a little more about how to blow shofar than i did going in, simply because this is a big part of my heritage and religion that i owe it to myself to learn more about it. I also never realized how much is involved in learning. I thought it just meant putting the shofar to your lips and blowing air, but there is a right/wrong way to hold it to your lips and it can hurt sometimes, especially when you are trying to find the perfect spot that makes a good sound. It really was a great few classes where I learnt alot, and hopefully the skills and information i got are things that I can use during the High Holidays next year. I definitely realized that i was able to engage in this as leisure even if my skill set was low or almost non-existent, because the internal drive and motivation was there from the get go.

Actvity Adaptations Projects

Well, it's finally over...the group presentation for my Therapeutic Recreation class this morning. Now that I have done 2 Blog Summaries and consider myself to be leisure educated, I can tell you that the entire process leading up to today was NOT leisure. At least I know that doing a project about a leisure activity does not have to be leisurely itself. I was not really internally motivated and didn't have any enjoyment out of the whole research process. However, when we had a chance to walk around and see everyone else's adaptations of various recreation programs, it was a leisurely experience, in part because i was able to concentrate on the benefits of different activities, and was motivated to see how i could use the adapted sports for the populations i work with. I did enjoy seeing how many ways there are to adapt so many sports, changing things that i never even thought of before.

Blog Summary #2

Ok, so now i realize why i haven't been blogging as much lately,and why i need to start again on a regular basis. I also have a better understanding of why i am having 'writers block' when it comes to choosing my new leisure activity...listen up folks, this counts. I have had some leisure opportunities but i have not been responding to them as they have arisen. I have failed to respond to the fact that leisure is a topic in and of itself, and i need to address it that way. That means for example, that i need to start realizing that even learning about the new leisure experience that i blogged about being unsure of, is a leisure experience in its own right. I also realize now that i do value leisure education and am becoming more of a leisure educator, even when i don't even realize it. The wife of the patient at the St. Mary's, who i explained Hangman to, and how she can have a great time with her grandkids, was leisure education for me. It may have even been for her, because she then went ahead and explained the game to others. I was educating people about opportunities in their own environment to make their lives better through leisure.

As well, when i educated my parents about how to use the webcam for video calls, i was intrinsically motivated to do so, and i was able to educate them because i was in tune with my knowledge and skill on the subject. I really did get pleasure and satisfaction out of leisure educating them, because i value my experiences on webcam in a positive way and i wanted to take a few minutes out of my day to show them how it can positively impact their experiences as well.

At Gatineau Park, i was being leisure educated by my friend about the type of leaves and trees there, and how just simply eating supper overlooking an amazing sunset was a leisure experience. It was a positive learning experience, and one that i value, because now i look at the leaves changing colours in a whole other light. It used to be that they were a nuisance and just more yard work to do, but now that i have been leisure educated about them, i look forward to the leisure opportunity when my tree will be bare and i get to rake them up and put them into composting.

At the Seniors Residence where i work part-time, i value the fact that i am able to keep them informed and mentally stimulated. I enjoy seeing them come up to me during the day to tell me how they had a wonderful experience, and how they are going to try and find more time in their day to make the most out of their opporunities to leisure. Whether it's Word Games, or discussion groups or sing-a-longs doesn't really matter as much as the fact that i am leisure educating them. The words that i used, such as 'experiential learning' and 'enjoyable, rewarding', indicate to me that i positively value my leisure experiences with them.

Overall, i must say that i am becoming not only a leisure educator to others, but am being leisure educated in ways i could not have even imagined. I believe this is so because i value leisure in a positive way, and want to make the most of the opportunities that i am presented with, in order to make them true leisure experiences. New leisure experience worth 5%, 'HERE I COME!'

Currents Events

This past Sunday, when i was leading my discussion group with Seniors that i work with, it realized that i learnt as much as my participants did. Although it was a one hour discussion group, my experiential learning was enormous. It took me the same amount of time to prepare my lecture material as it did to present it, because i had to know what i was going to discuss fairly well. The best way that i was going to teach them, was to learn it myself. I was learning a leisure experience that was enjoyable and rewarding for me as the teacher, and the 'students', i.e. seniors, as well. The activity was enjoyable in itself, and it was a leisurely educating experience. I valued the fact that i was able to educate the seniors about what is going on in the world, at an age where they may fall out of touch with current events.

Volunteering at St. Mary's

Last Monday morning when i was volunteering in the St. Mary's Dialysis Department, i was playing Hangman with some patients there, and there was one woman in particular, the wife of a patient who approached me during the game. She had never seen Hangman being played before and was interested in learning how. I explained the premise of the game to her and how she needed to try and guess the word i was thinking of, by choosing letters. When it was over, she told me that she was going to play it with her grandchildren because she found that it stimulates your mind and getting the brain pumping. Well, yesterday morning as i was playing Pictionary with the patients, she came up to me to tell me her grandkids had a great time and that she really enjoys playing the game. That made me feel really good, to know that i was able to leisure educate her, and in a little way that was my own personal teachable moment.

The Procrastinator

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what i can do for that extra 5% for my new leisure activity, but as you can tell from the small amount of blog entries this time around, i have procrasinated in choosing one. I think the reason is because i lack the motivation and internal drive necessary to withstand my tendencies to laziness. The list that Steve handed out in class is full of ideas that i can try, but i still keep pushing it off. I don't feel like i will truly be at leisure in my activity because if i were, i would have chosen it myself and not relied on the guidance of others to help me choose one. I think i will be leaning towards an opportunity where i can really feel enjoyment and satisfaction in what i am pursuing, and not simply looking at it as an obligation that can get me 5% in class. I need to work on finding my internal motivation that will help make in my decision making process from here on out.

In Our Nation's Captial

Well, i was in Ottawa last Sunday to pick up a friend from the airport and we ended up spending the day/night there. The drive to the airport was fine, except when it came time to follow MapQuest directions. I don't recall ever having to take little rural side roads to get to a major international airport, but if it's on mapquest, it must be true, right?! Nevertheless, it was a pleasant drive west. I have never been into parks and nature trails, but i was very interested to see what Gatineau Park in Chelsea, Quebec was all about, and i am glad i did. The leaves changing colors, the awesome lookout points were great, but nothing beat eating dinner on a picnic bench overlooking a spectacular sunset. I really have a greater appreciation now for nature and how wonderous our little planet is.

Technology At Its Finest

Well, i must say that technology has come along way and i tend to take for granted the fact that i have grown up with computers that keep improving. Who'd have thought that technology could allow people who are thousands of miles away to see and speak to each other from in front of a screen; all in real-time. Such was the case this past Sunday morning when both my sisters called my parents to join them in a webcam conversation on Windows Instant Messenger. I should say for the record, that i actually love doing the whole webcam conversation and seeing my 2 yr. old nieces and nephews talking and singing to us...although translating what they say can be tricky. Oh, to be young again! What i actaully did get a kick out of was being able to show my parents how to connect to the webcam and answer the call for a conversation online. Although it wasn't the first time i've shown them (they claim its too complicated), i still enjoyed showing them how they can have a conversation with their grandkids anytime of the day, even when i'm not there to get them online. And to think, all it took was a few minutes out of my day to sit them down in front of the computer and have them repeat what i showed them and they even wrote down some instructions. It truly was a case of me teaching them about leisure through leisure itself. A job well done...

Blog Summary #1

I have come to the conclusion that leisure as i have been describing in my blogs doesn't necessarily have to do with time. What i think it is related to is my state of mind. I have found that what i consider to be leisure comes from my outlook at that particular moment. It is all about my perceived freedom and my freedom to choose what i will engage in for leisure. If i find cutting the grass to be leisurely then i will engage in that even though it may not seem to be leisure for others, because i am free to choose it. I have to still ask myself, 'What do i understand about the leisure in my life and how does it affect my leisure choices?' I do think that my leisure tends to be constrained, both in terms of interpersonal and intrapersonal aspects, and in terms of what i can do while navigating the responsibilities of work, school and friends. My passion being baseball, i tend to be constrained from spending time with my family and friends during the playoffs, and i am sad that my beloved Yankees have failed to make the playoffs. That intrapersonal constraint of being in a sad state of mind, can hold me back from playing softball on the weekends. I think that if i were to focus on the more positive aspects of it, that there is always next season, my intrapersonal constraint would be lessened. As well, i was only able to see one live Yankee game this year, due to the financial constraints of the cost of the games and the distance.
Overall, i am becoming more of a leisure educated person in deciding what i tend to do for leisure, what i haven't experienced in leisure that i would like to, and in being able to learn more about leisure for leisure itself, i.e. as a end in itself. For example, my blog about the Yankees missing the playoffs and needing an extra hitter, that was said half jokingly, but is still considered to be serious leisure, When i first started my blog entries, i used to think that leisure = free time. Now i realize that's not the case, because i could have free time and not be at leisure, like when i was biking home balancing the groceries. I needed the groceries and balancing them on my bike did not leave me in a happy state of mind when i got home. Who would've thought leisure could be more than just free time...

Big Band Bash

Well, the weekend is a great time to party, but i didn't expect it to be while at work. We had the grand re-opening of the building where i work and the planning committee went all out. I mean a tent, 18 piece orchestra, dinner and of course, dancing. Did i mention i work with seniors so you can just imagine the dancing! That being said, i did have to make sure people knew where to go, and that the seniors were safe, so i was "on duty" to some extent. All in all, it was a really fun and enjoyable night, and made me realize that work and pleasure can mix...sometimes!

Labour Day Weekend...what labour?

There's nothing like sitting by the pier and watching the sunset on a weekend that was quite eventful. Having flown in and out of Chicago in 30 hours made for a fun filled and interesting weekend, but it was worth it to spend time with a friend who otherwise i may not have seen. The simple things in life make it all better.

It's Officially Over...Unoffically

Well, the curtain has finally come down on the Historic House that Ruth Built and the New York Yankees are not entering into the Post Season. What a memorable event to watch though, as the players paraded around the ballpark for one final salute to the most loyal fans of the game. I truly felt part of history that night. Well, all good things must come to an end.

Balancing Act

You know when it looks like it may rain but you are not sure how long you have left till it comes down? Luckily i was able to bike to class today and that the sun was shining down on me. No problems there, a nice an relaxing 10 min. ride with my Mp3 player on hand. When i emerged from Super C with a bags of fruits and vegetables, it became clear to me that i would need to balance myself well in order to get home. I think next time it'll make more sense to bike with free hands so that i can enjoy the leisurely ride and not have to worry about Mr. Bag of Onions falling out on Sherbrooke St. West.

A Job Well Done

Since the dawn of civilization, man has yearned to become one with nature. I must say, that i am not the type of person that enjoys gardening, what with the whole planting of the flowers and the watering and weeding. Cutting the grass, on the other hand, now that's a whole other story. I was lucky enough to mow the lawn in a fairly quick amount of time over the weekend, and still have time to see Tom Brady and the Patriots' Super Bowl hopes go down the drain with his season ending knee injury. I guess it's seeing what a masterful job i did at the end of it all, that makes it worthwhile to me. But i would say that it was leisure for me to plug that bad boy in and mulch away! Now, as for the upcoming raking of the leaves and the filling of the bags, that to me is not leisure in any form. I am not motivated to rake, and would much rather just push them onto the street and let mother nature do the rest.

Season's almost over

Is this the end for my beloved Yanks? It definitely doesn't look good from here, and i can only imagine what is must look like in the Big Apple. Heads will probably roll after this season expecially since it's the last one at the historic Yankee Stadium in 'Da Bronx'. Here's to hoping things look up for this once venerable club that seems to have fallen on hard times since A-Rod's arrival. Has anyone else noticed they haven't won anything since he arrived? Well, i must go hit the batting cages now in case the Bronx Bombers call me up soon...it could be any day now! The most important thing to remember though is that as long as everyone is having fun, that's all that matters, right?!

Well, this is my first blog of what will hopefully become a routine event for me throughout this course, and i must say that it was a pretty unique experience to have put together my own blog page. I hope this will allow me to blog whenever i have something to share with all of you regarding my leisure experiences throughout this semester.