Another beautiful poetic piece I'm so happy I got to read! Some time ago, I began making a concerted effort to leave the TV off in my "leisure" time and turn to books and all sorts of reading materials instead. It was an attempt to become wiser (attempt being the active word here). But what I didn't realize is that it would bring me peace, more confidence in my decision-making, contentment, joy... the list of intangibles goes on. It's amazing what happens when we take an active role with leisure and view it as a time of contemplation and seeking, rather than a time to escape.
Our culture has become less and less conducive to quiet and contemplation. In fact, silence almost feels like laziness/acedia because it *could be filled with something useful*! And it is also so easy to feel FOMO if people are talking about the latest show/video game/concert. And any one of these things could be leisure if approached with the right mindset, and in right proportion. Reading is one of those activities that really asks a lot of our contemplative natures. The mechanics of reading are actually quite complex so it is easier to get into a "leisure" mindset when you do that, as opposed to watching a certain show or movie (with the understanding that watching Lawrence of Arabia is probably more contemplatively engaging than Fast & Furious 9).
I am so glad we found each other via Substack. Your music is great! And the practice, performing, and active listening to music is definitely a gift to our culture and a life of true leisure!
Thank you so much! I so appreciate you listening to the music. I'm so glad we've connected on here as well. It's so interesting how I can spend time on this platform and leave it feeling mentally rejuvenated, yet 10 minutes on Facebook leaves me deeply concerned with where the world's headed lol. It makes me realize how important perspective is when it comes to the media we consume. As a side note, how it is possible they are STILL making Fast & Furious movies? It is the energizer bunny of film franchises.
This is so thought-provoking. I'm going to have to read it again. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for reading! :-)
Another beautiful poetic piece I'm so happy I got to read! Some time ago, I began making a concerted effort to leave the TV off in my "leisure" time and turn to books and all sorts of reading materials instead. It was an attempt to become wiser (attempt being the active word here). But what I didn't realize is that it would bring me peace, more confidence in my decision-making, contentment, joy... the list of intangibles goes on. It's amazing what happens when we take an active role with leisure and view it as a time of contemplation and seeking, rather than a time to escape.
Our culture has become less and less conducive to quiet and contemplation. In fact, silence almost feels like laziness/acedia because it *could be filled with something useful*! And it is also so easy to feel FOMO if people are talking about the latest show/video game/concert. And any one of these things could be leisure if approached with the right mindset, and in right proportion. Reading is one of those activities that really asks a lot of our contemplative natures. The mechanics of reading are actually quite complex so it is easier to get into a "leisure" mindset when you do that, as opposed to watching a certain show or movie (with the understanding that watching Lawrence of Arabia is probably more contemplatively engaging than Fast & Furious 9).
I am so glad we found each other via Substack. Your music is great! And the practice, performing, and active listening to music is definitely a gift to our culture and a life of true leisure!
Thank you so much! I so appreciate you listening to the music. I'm so glad we've connected on here as well. It's so interesting how I can spend time on this platform and leave it feeling mentally rejuvenated, yet 10 minutes on Facebook leaves me deeply concerned with where the world's headed lol. It makes me realize how important perspective is when it comes to the media we consume. As a side note, how it is possible they are STILL making Fast & Furious movies? It is the energizer bunny of film franchises.
I agree. Leisure is engagement without forcing the moment to be anything other than what it is.
Yes! Leisure is engagement--not escapism, like many people think it is. It is is contemplative reconnection to reality! It is a gift. :-)