According to our class definition, leisure is defined as 'a state of mind, freely chosen that results in intrinsic feelings of happiness; satisfaction, pleasure and/or enjoyment' This definition helps me to understand leisure in my life. Whatever I do which I relate to leisure is aimed to bring upon happiness as playing instruments, socializing...demonstrated in my blog, and try to find leisure in things I'm not to keen on such as attending a funeral or writing this blog.
I value leisure because we cannot just work and attend university and follow through our obligations...As a human being, we need time to relax, to enjoy ourselves, have our minds free of somewhat stress induced obligations and find leisure in our lives. In my blog, I have clearly demonstrated this above mentionned statement, as there are many activities I enjoy to the point I do not have time to do everything which brings us to the question:' Is your leisure constrained? How?'
I do not have time to do everything I would like to do in the leisurely sense due to poor time management. Eventhough, time is not included in our definition, it is sometimes necessary in order to partake in activities that do not revolve around obligations such as work. Two entries in my blog are related to time constraints.
Leisure education; I believe we are continously educating ourselves about the subject without even being fully conscious about it. We browse the net, read magazines, watch TV, talk to friends....and in every aspect, there will be something related to leisure. For example, a commercial, ad or article about skydiving which you never thought of doing or a friend tells you about this great Indian restaurant...These are examples of leisure education however not to the extent which we should grasp that information we have learnt from others and use it for our education. I believe this class will give us the necessary tools to fully understand and enjoy leisure.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
My leisure choices: Saturday 27th of September
Endless options what to do on a Saturday night. What would be my intrinsic motivation when choosing the right thing to do. How to choose the option that would make me most happy and that I wouldn't regret.
This Saturday I was a bit troubled what to do.
These were my options:
-Spoke with my cousin on Friday to hang out on Saturday and do whatever
-Mont Tremblant in a luxurious condo, poker, dinner, jacuzzi as a continuation of a bachelor party that started on Friday night
-Go to a resto-bar to celebrate a good friends 30th birthday
-BBQ and house party at a co-worker's apartment
-Sleep
My initial plans were to sleep as I haven't really slept Thursday or Friday night and worked on Saturday till five and didn't really know what I wanted to do. As I was ridiculously tired, I forgot about my cousin, declined the Mont Tremblant event as I had things to do on Sunday, the resto-bar, well that could of been fun, and the BBQ, I don't want to hang out too much with co-workers.
So, I came home from work, watched briefly TV and was getting ready to sleep...my cell phone was left in the kichen so I wasn't able to pick up the calls while watching TV and finally at some point went to get something to eat and noticed that I had 11 missed calls and most of them were related to the BBQ. I called back one of the people from the BBQ and they couldn't accept NO as an answer, gave me 45 minutes for a nap and came to pick me up as they know I have tendencies to drink in an immoral way so taking my car would be a mistake. My extrinsic motivation here was that I felt I had the duty to go to make others happy and as per intrinsic, after all, it's sometimes good to see co-workers outside of work,there were going to be a few people there i really haven't had the chance to have a real conversation with.
Anyways, that night ended costing me around 150$ partially because we went to a club later on and what pissed me off the most is that I woke up on Sunday in the afternoon at around 5pm.
That night was ok but I literally wasted money on nothing, wasted my whole day on Sunday sleeping missing a lunch at one of my aunts place which I promised I'll go to, at the moment under stress because I have a lot things to do ... Nothing really positive came out of that night. I could of went to Mont Tremblant after all...The whole point of my initial plan to sleep early Saturday was to wake up early on Sunday.
I have made the BAD choice.
This Saturday I was a bit troubled what to do.
These were my options:
-Spoke with my cousin on Friday to hang out on Saturday and do whatever
-Mont Tremblant in a luxurious condo, poker, dinner, jacuzzi as a continuation of a bachelor party that started on Friday night
-Go to a resto-bar to celebrate a good friends 30th birthday
-BBQ and house party at a co-worker's apartment
-Sleep
My initial plans were to sleep as I haven't really slept Thursday or Friday night and worked on Saturday till five and didn't really know what I wanted to do. As I was ridiculously tired, I forgot about my cousin, declined the Mont Tremblant event as I had things to do on Sunday, the resto-bar, well that could of been fun, and the BBQ, I don't want to hang out too much with co-workers.
So, I came home from work, watched briefly TV and was getting ready to sleep...my cell phone was left in the kichen so I wasn't able to pick up the calls while watching TV and finally at some point went to get something to eat and noticed that I had 11 missed calls and most of them were related to the BBQ. I called back one of the people from the BBQ and they couldn't accept NO as an answer, gave me 45 minutes for a nap and came to pick me up as they know I have tendencies to drink in an immoral way so taking my car would be a mistake. My extrinsic motivation here was that I felt I had the duty to go to make others happy and as per intrinsic, after all, it's sometimes good to see co-workers outside of work,there were going to be a few people there i really haven't had the chance to have a real conversation with.
Anyways, that night ended costing me around 150$ partially because we went to a club later on and what pissed me off the most is that I woke up on Sunday in the afternoon at around 5pm.
That night was ok but I literally wasted money on nothing, wasted my whole day on Sunday sleeping missing a lunch at one of my aunts place which I promised I'll go to, at the moment under stress because I have a lot things to do ... Nothing really positive came out of that night. I could of went to Mont Tremblant after all...The whole point of my initial plan to sleep early Saturday was to wake up early on Sunday.
I have made the BAD choice.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Do I have time for everything...
Yesterday night, I went to a bachelor party starting with dinner at L'Orignal in the old port. We were about 20 guys; some were family members, other friends and some people I didn't know but of course had the opportunity to acquaint with. I ordered the beef tartar as an appetizer and the boar with risutto as the main course....nothing too special, we should of went to Mcdonald's but the wine and ambiance was fabulous.
I arrived at the restaurant at ten in the evening while the guests have already arrived there at around eight. I was late....it wasn't even fashionnable.
After a few hours of sleep on Thursday, I woke up at around seven in the morning. First I did the usual morning stuff and went for a morning jog. Afterwards, I have worked from 9h30 to 5h30, then arrived late at class from 6 to literally till 9. For some reason, in that particular class which doesn't even involve university credits as it is a mandatory class for students on academic probation, the teacher only lets us go at nine on the dot and if we miss more than one class, well, we fail. Anyways, after class had a little chat with some buddies...started walking towards the metro for the old port and met an old buddy of mine from a previous job on the street, chatted some more, and finally showed up at the restaurant at around ten. The evening continued after the dinner, until around 4am...I would stay longer but had to wake up before 8am to go and work again. And after I came back home from the party, I had to check my emails and take a shower.
That was an incredibly hectic day which is typical on three, four days in my week. School ( three courses) and work ( full time)are a real hassle and gets in the way for things I truly enjoy. I barely have time to practice my instruments, study or do assignments in the very late evenings, stopped temporarily going to the gym, rarely watch TV which is a pure delight for me....TIME CONSTRAINTS and more TIME CONSTRAINTS...Is it my lack of time management...or I have too many things to do...Should I cut back on work or concentrate on fewer things.
What should I do to properly balance leisure and obligations? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
I arrived at the restaurant at ten in the evening while the guests have already arrived there at around eight. I was late....it wasn't even fashionnable.
After a few hours of sleep on Thursday, I woke up at around seven in the morning. First I did the usual morning stuff and went for a morning jog. Afterwards, I have worked from 9h30 to 5h30, then arrived late at class from 6 to literally till 9. For some reason, in that particular class which doesn't even involve university credits as it is a mandatory class for students on academic probation, the teacher only lets us go at nine on the dot and if we miss more than one class, well, we fail. Anyways, after class had a little chat with some buddies...started walking towards the metro for the old port and met an old buddy of mine from a previous job on the street, chatted some more, and finally showed up at the restaurant at around ten. The evening continued after the dinner, until around 4am...I would stay longer but had to wake up before 8am to go and work again. And after I came back home from the party, I had to check my emails and take a shower.
That was an incredibly hectic day which is typical on three, four days in my week. School ( three courses) and work ( full time)are a real hassle and gets in the way for things I truly enjoy. I barely have time to practice my instruments, study or do assignments in the very late evenings, stopped temporarily going to the gym, rarely watch TV which is a pure delight for me....TIME CONSTRAINTS and more TIME CONSTRAINTS...Is it my lack of time management...or I have too many things to do...Should I cut back on work or concentrate on fewer things.
What should I do to properly balance leisure and obligations? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Speaking of accordions...
This particular post is dedicated for my love for playing music. I've been learning instruments since I can remember forced upon by my parents...well, not my parents; my dad never really cared, just for how much it cost him for lessons and instruments so my mom was basically the puppeteer.
The instruments that were forced upon me were the piano,the clarinet, saxophone and the trumpet. The instruments I have chosen to learn out of free will were the guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, opera singing and the accordion.
All my life, music was part of my life, I don't think there was a week in my life except while traveling, that I haven't played an instrument. It comes so easy to me. You can say I was born with a somewhat perfect ear meaning that if I hear something on the radio, I'm able to replay the same melody after a few minutes of exploring it on practically any instrument mentionned above.
Playing music for me is a very leisurely experience but also I play it to go through emotions, whether positive or negative. It helps me to cope with any induced stress . It runs in the family. Whenever my older brother plays the piano at my place which is once in a blue moon, everybody knows that something is bothering him.
I also used to play music making a somewhat living playing in a semi-professional band playing the clarinet and bass guitar for almost 4 years. And, let me tell you something...my life revolved at some point anticipating playing at shows, weddings, etc. Being on that stage made me feel alive, appreciated...I got paid good money doing something I truly loved and the guys I played with were practically family. We spent a lot of time together as per practices, social gatherings...This part of my life took an end when I decided to leave the band and leave for Europe for almost 2 years. Since then, I have received a few offers to join other bands but for some reason I put to quits but planning in the very near future to make a comeback in the music scene. As for making a living, I also was a musicotherapist'/leisure coordinator at a CHSLD for the elderly and played in private homes for birthdays, anniversaries....as an accordeonist/singer.
Now as for the accordion, that is the instrument I enjoy the most. Steve Urkel from Family Matters and Weird Al Yankovic gave us a bad name making it a geeky instrument but I feel one day the accordion will be in the spotlight the way it deserves. Playing the accordion is like playing for a few people, as you have the melody, the bass and you can sing or play the harmonica on the same time.
Anyways, this post is getting long...I just want to mention that I've appeared on tv on Canadian Idol this season being the first singer to ever bring an accordion on a talent show on Canadian national tv. I choked and didn't do that well and they even edited almost an hour of me into 30-40 seconds making me look like an idiot but I got the chance to appear on tv and showing off my main leisurely activity which was playing music.
Here's a link if you want to see one of my accordions, one of my passions, in the 24h newspaper.
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/24hrsmontreal/24h-montreal-20-05-2008/2008051901/22.html
The instruments that were forced upon me were the piano,the clarinet, saxophone and the trumpet. The instruments I have chosen to learn out of free will were the guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, opera singing and the accordion.
All my life, music was part of my life, I don't think there was a week in my life except while traveling, that I haven't played an instrument. It comes so easy to me. You can say I was born with a somewhat perfect ear meaning that if I hear something on the radio, I'm able to replay the same melody after a few minutes of exploring it on practically any instrument mentionned above.
Playing music for me is a very leisurely experience but also I play it to go through emotions, whether positive or negative. It helps me to cope with any induced stress . It runs in the family. Whenever my older brother plays the piano at my place which is once in a blue moon, everybody knows that something is bothering him.
I also used to play music making a somewhat living playing in a semi-professional band playing the clarinet and bass guitar for almost 4 years. And, let me tell you something...my life revolved at some point anticipating playing at shows, weddings, etc. Being on that stage made me feel alive, appreciated...I got paid good money doing something I truly loved and the guys I played with were practically family. We spent a lot of time together as per practices, social gatherings...This part of my life took an end when I decided to leave the band and leave for Europe for almost 2 years. Since then, I have received a few offers to join other bands but for some reason I put to quits but planning in the very near future to make a comeback in the music scene. As for making a living, I also was a musicotherapist'/leisure coordinator at a CHSLD for the elderly and played in private homes for birthdays, anniversaries....as an accordeonist/singer.
Now as for the accordion, that is the instrument I enjoy the most. Steve Urkel from Family Matters and Weird Al Yankovic gave us a bad name making it a geeky instrument but I feel one day the accordion will be in the spotlight the way it deserves. Playing the accordion is like playing for a few people, as you have the melody, the bass and you can sing or play the harmonica on the same time.
Anyways, this post is getting long...I just want to mention that I've appeared on tv on Canadian Idol this season being the first singer to ever bring an accordion on a talent show on Canadian national tv. I choked and didn't do that well and they even edited almost an hour of me into 30-40 seconds making me look like an idiot but I got the chance to appear on tv and showing off my main leisurely activity which was playing music.
Here's a link if you want to see one of my accordions, one of my passions, in the 24h newspaper.
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/24hrsmontreal/24h-montreal-20-05-2008/2008051901/22.html
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Attending a funeral, is there room for leisure...
Last Saturday, I have joined my sister-in-law aunt's family and friends, to mourn and to celebrate her long and fruitful life on a very sunny afternoon at the hilltop of Mount Royal. It was her time, she died of old age. It was a gathering of people in a funeral home. The closest people to her and especially her family were in tears. She never married nor had children. I never actually had a real conversation with that woman nor really knew her...I have come for moral support.
The woman has planned her entire funeral..She chose the funeral home, her casket, the flowers, the time allowed for her family to see her and then for the rest of us, etc...After speaking with her nieces and my sister-in-law, she was actually planning this since a long time bit by bit changing ideas continuously and was cheerful about it. Was it leisure for her? I think yes...She knew her time was coming, and she has prepared herself to the last detail.
She even has requested that at the end of the funeral a specific song was to be played; that's where I come in. The family has asked me to play the chosen song on my accordion. At first I have declined as I tend to be emotional when it comes to departed ones and perhaps wouldn't be able to handle the pressure and secondly, I found it unsuitable to play a live instrument in such a setting. I brought the accordion at the funeral home as they asked me to, just in case I change my mind. After reflection and mourning, I have decided to go along.
I believe what I did and what they have asked me to do, was one of the greatest actions you can do for a departed one; play their song not from a disc player but lively with an instrument at their funeral. I'm sure she was smiling at me from up above. It was a bit hard to play when you see simutaneously 30 people cry after a few notes were played. At the end of the song, I had to put down the accordion and step aside to do some crying myself as I truly put tremendous emotion through my instrument.
Afterwards, we have all gathered at the funeral's home reception hall for some wine and brunch where we had the chance to rekindle with old friendships, meet new people and take the oppurtunity to speak about the departed one.
A funeral, can it possibly be leisure....
A funeral is a social gathering, people come and join together to pay their last respects and to support the family members. People cry but people also laugh.
Monday, September 15, 2008
I’m not too happy about this but I will learn to enjoy it
I guess I have no choice but to start writing...after receiving an email reminding me that I’m behind on this passionate project not writing or displaying anything on a blog created a week or two ago...a leisure blog...and a quasi-imposed one. Am I having pleasure right now writing...I don’t know...I’m continuously thinking about what to write but for some reason it writes itself...Wouldn't life be beautiful if all you had to do is to show up to class and attentively listen, take your notes...go home, do whatever you have to do and come back to class the next week not even mentioning or thinking what you have done in class previously during the whole week..having your short week committed to leisure and that activity you cant live without; work unless you’re one of ‘those’ blessed by materialistic fortune and all they do is leisure....but look at this...there’s a blog to fill in, assignments to do, read from books...and we might even have surprises to do extra work...doesn’t this take away from your leisure time...I was actually anxious to a certain extent today at work thinking about the fact that I have to get started on this blog and instead of actively planning my night, my leisure time...I’m in front of a computer writing and writing...and more writing...and on the same time thinking to myself I could be doing something else that would make me happy such as anything else than this....Now I’m being pessimistic....heck lets call it complaining....but you know what...the other day, I was truly bewildered, maybe not bewildered, that’s a strong word, let’s say moved and got a stronger admiration towards our teacher...I couldn’t grasp the fact that Professor Henle...took all our answers from 2 weeks ago about those miniature questionnaires we had to fill out about our leisure time and tabulated them into graphs and percentages...themes...Now, I tell myself..if He takes the time out of his leisure, his free time to do something which nobody imposed on him, refusing to be that teacher that says hi at the beginning of the class, gives a chapter to read and the next word he says is bye....well then...I believe I could do this to...and maybe learn to enjoy it and perhaps make it a leisurely activity
Till next time....
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Till next time....
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