 |
Recreation
|
City of Roswell
P.O. Drawer 1838
Roswell, NM 88202-1838
(505) 624-6700
Fax: 624-6889 |
THE LEISURE INCIDENT
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – "HAPPINESS IS…"
October
15, 1998
By Kim Elliott, CLP
Recreation Director
City of Roswell
The essence of The Leisure Incident is making someone happy! This can be accomplished
in many different ways. It can be through physical fitness or a learning experience. It
can be from meeting and making new friends or accomplishing a task. It can be learning how
to play a sport or reading a good book. It can be viewing the wonders of nature or
climbing one of those wonders.
The Leisure Incident has the potential to make us happy. Kate Douglas Wiggin said,
"If you make children happy now, you will make them happy twenty years hence by the
memory of it." The same applies to older folk, too! A "happy" time now,
creates a "happy" time later as we remember the elements of the moment.
Would you be happy if you could do something that would help lift depression, lessen
tension, and lessen confusion? Would you be happy if you could increase optimism and hope,
boost your self-esteem and increase your energy? The May 1996 issue of Prevention magazine
stated that "walking" can do all of these.
Does pleasant events such as dinner with friends or a weekend hike in the woods make
you happy? Sachs and Sega wrote in the December 1994 issue of New Woman that these
activities give a boost to the immune system that lasts two to three days.
How about that tree you like to sit under and watch the birds and squirrels play? Does
that make you happy? In addition to your happiness, that tree is worth $275 in benefits a
year due to reductions in air-conditioning costs, erosion control, wildlife protection and
air pollution control as determined by the Florida Department of Natural Resources.
"Happiness…it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative
effort" as Franklin D. Roosevelt stated. The Leisure Incident has the potential
for happiness, and so much more!
However, when we are happy we have a tendency to forget that there are many elements
that help to create that happiness! Good health, exercise, interaction with friends, clean
air and water, nature smiling on us, creativity, a sense of accomplishment…all help
to bring happiness to the individual.
This is the Leisure Incident in its fullness!
Leisure is an essential part of life. Without it, we can not be happy! Aristotle said, "It
is commonly believed that happiness depends on leisure because we occupy ourselves so that
we may have leisure, just as we make war in order that we may live in peace." We
sure seem to spend a lot of time working so we can enjoy the weekend, don’t we?
The Roswell Recreation Department and the Roswell Park Department exist in some
respects just for you to be happy. One of the determining factors of a community’s
health and welfare is whether or not the community is happy! How does Roswell compare?
What can we do to make the Roswell community a healthier community? The community has a
responsibility to let us know in positive and constructive ways what we can do to help.
In the meantime, the Roswell Recreation Department will continue to provide programs
and services for Roswell’s health and welfare…her happiness!
Parks and Recreation - The Benefits are Endless...TM
