Leisure – Its Uses and Abuses
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What is this life if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
W. H. Davies has rightly said that if we do not have leisure to do things we want to then life be boring, monotonous and dull.
Leisure means a time in which person does not do his regular work. Since leisure is a free time of a person to use as he wishes, it can be used is a right way or wrong way. It could be used or abused depending upon the way it is utilized.
Most people use their leisure time for useful purpose. Housewives, for example, use their leisure time in making their delicacies or sweets or sewing, or reading; children normally spend their leisure time reading or doing some useful craft articles or experimenting some scientific experiment or playing healthy outdoor games like cricket, foot ball, etc. or indoor games like chess, carom, etc. Men generally use their leisure time reading newspapers and doing odd repair jobs in their houses.
One’s leisure time can be used for different useful things such as drawing, music, watching meaningful T.V. programmed. Reading and viewing T.V. increases knowledge and brings one up-to-date with what is happening around. Drawing, painting, walking brings one in close contact with nature. Work pursued during one’s leisure time develops the personality of an individual and provides rest, relaxation and pleasure.
Leisure can be as dangerous as poison if wrongly used. It is very appropriately said that an ‘Idle mind is a Devil’s workshop’. If one has leisure time and does not know how to use it then it could be very harmful.
It could be used for consumption of harmful substances such as drugs, liquor, smoking, etc. Some people use their leisure time planning robberies or gambling. This is not only harmful to the person concerned but harmful to the society as well.
Sometimes young people use their leisure time visiting discotheques – this may lead to other harmful habits. Some people use their leisure time to sit with their neighbors or friends and gossip. Yet a few of them just while away their time doing nothing and get bored.
Leisure is a double edged sword which has to be handled carefully. If handled with care, it proves to be a good servant, if not it becomes an evil master. So ultimately, it depends on the utilize, whether the person uses leisure’s for advantage or disadvantage.