Leisure in modern age
Leisure is an important part of life. Leisure
is not idleness nor non-activity but it implies an activity which is meaningful,
fruitful and enjoyable. it is for its own sake and not to earn money for man
does not live by bread alone. Leisure time is a time of personal fulfillment,
and pleasure. It is freedom from monotony, boredom and drudgery of life, It is a
time when one pursues what one likes most. It is as important as the work itself
which forms our means of livelihood. A man can be judged by his leisure and how
he spends it.
The modern age of automation, better standard
of living and longevity has further broadened and liberalized the concept of
leisure. The wonderful scientific and technological inventions, discoveries and
developments have reduced the hours of working and consequently, man has now
more time to enjoy leisure and hobbies. But to make a meaningful use of leisure
time is nothing short of an art. Very few people know how to best use the
leisure time. For many leisure may mean something else but pleasure, enjoyment,
relaxation and fulfillment. For them it is a problem to spend leisure time. One
needs to develop a proper perspective to make the most meaningful and satisfying
use of the spare moments.
Different people spend in different ways
their leisure. Some people have no definite idea or plan in this respect. Some
others may treat this period as a time of rest and sleep. To many others it is a
time of some creative and aesthetic pursuit and inner fulfillment and growth.
They play music, grow plants, write poems, practice meditation or render social
service. To many it is time for simple entertainment and they go to theatres,
see movies or exchange visit with friends and relatives.
But in this age of electronics most of the
people spend their leisure before their television sets. The craze and
popularity of television is rapidly increasing further and further. A great part
pf their free time is being spent in viewing programmer on the idiot box. there
are interesting serials, spicy films, scintillating music, dances, plays, chat
shows, interviews, various types of information, latest news, weather forecasts,
analysis of events and happenings and many more things all the 24 hours of the
day. There are scores of channels to choose from. it is the cheapest, the most
convenient and the easiest source of entertainment. One has to do nothing. There
is neither mental exercise nor physical activity. You have to just sit
comfortably and watch things happen on the small screen. In between the various
programmes you can enjoy tea, snacks or other eatables.
People spend many hours each day before the
television. Even children are great TV enthusiasts. They have cartoon films and
other programmes to keep them glued to their TV sets. They prefer TV to any
other thing. It is now much more than just one of the media. The cable boom has
further encouraged the television viewing. Then there are video cassette
recorders and players. It has become the most important means of home
entertainment. And there is big money in the business.
Such a craze and popularity of TV has created
many social, psychological physical, family and mental problems. It has
marginalized reading social activates and outdoor hobbies to a great extent. It
is particularly harmful for children. They spend 3-4 hours or more daily in
viewing television programmes. Consequently, they grow mature before their age,
acquire lots of knowledge but never grow in wisdom and lose much of their
valuable fun, pleasure and enjoyment peculiar to childhood.
These days leisure has grown into a big
business and industry. People have invested huge sums of money in developing
luxury hotels, motels, holiday homes, video games resorts, golf-courses, places
of water sports, fun and health clubs. There are package tours, chartered
flights and other attractions to make your spare time really interesting
enjoyable, exciting and memorable. One need not be always wealthy to enjoy one's
leisure time. What one actually needs is some imagination, planning and
thinking.
Leisure is enjoyable in relation to one's
work. It is after day's hard work that one enjoys one's leisure the most. In the
absence of work no leisure can be truly conceived. It is a kind of diversion
which presupposes work and labor. Rest is most sweet only after exhaustion. Our
life is now far more free and leisurely than it was for our forefathers.
Affluence, ease, automation and conquest of time and space have brought more
hours of leisure. But this abundance of leisure and spare time may turn into a
curse if not used properly and wisely in some pleasant, enjoyable and healthy
hobby. Leisure provides us with a rare opportunity to satisfy our inner
spiritual and aesthetic demands. But problem is how many of us are really well
equipped to meet these demands?
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