Essays

Many people do not have much leisure but those who ought to utilize it well—the rich and the poor alike.

The rich while away their leisure time in clulm OF hotels giving parties to their friends and relatives. The poor during off-time may indulge in gossiping or daydreaming. This is not a good way of spending one’s free time. Those who daydream may end up in frustration owing to disappointment. It could lead to despair and nervous breakdown. Similarly, gossip or idle talk or playing cards results in wastage of energy. One who gossips and speaks against anyone is considered am unreliable person.

Utilisation of one's leisure time calls for imagination While making a choice out of many ways of spending our time, we ought to ensure that it restores our lost energy and cheers us up. There are a good number of   The hobby that fits our interest, nature and our bud would be the best.

Take photography. It is an expensive hobby and more suits the rich. One can spend time taking pictures, black and white or colour, of places, scenes, people that we meet.

Stamp collecting is another interesting hobby. People collect stamps of different countries and of different times and place them in their album. If a stamp is very rare, it fetches a huge price. At times the hobby could prove to be very rewarding. Or the hobby could be coin collecting.

Those who live in single-storeyed bungalows or   houses with land around take to gardening. When plants that you have sowed and nursed flower or fruit, you feel sense of achievement. Gardening keeps the environment green and one's house spic and span. The kitchen garden could provide the family with fresh vegetables and fruit.  To add to this, you could have a green lawn.

If there is a river or lake closely you could do boating.  Boating and swimming are hobbies that give exercise. Vocal and instrumental—can provide us entertainment if it is taped. Or we could play or sing ourselves. What food is to the body, music is to the soul.  Music is so soothing and soul-uplifting.

Then comes reading and writing. We could read good books. We could write every day. Letter and diary writing leads to practice of writing. Many people have become good writers that way. Read books—novels, short stories,  biographics and autobiographies, magazines,  newspapers—that way we become more knowledgeable. Or one could, time permitting, do honorary social service in the town.  

Or you could walk or cycle around on a regular basis.  Going on a picnic by the weekend is also a good idea.

Stevenson, a writer of the nineteenth century, in his essay,   An Apology for Idlers" condemned overwork and over business. He recommended we find time to go to a  park and relax, enjoy tea, speak to passersby, play a  musical  instrument, to bask in the winter sun, to  meditae—in short to do anything, that is not called  ‘work’ bertrand  Russel also condemned silly hurry and  overwork of modern times. He believed in recreation and resaxation.

Each one of us could choose a worthwhile hobby that gives us change and joy. At times, our hobbies become our incrative vocation. You never know.