For most of us doing recreation is about having fun, doing hobbies, taking time out, spending time with friends, family, or just being intentional about not doing work.
Recently I have been thinking about the word “Recreation”. Random I know but that little word just keeps running around in my mind. I have always thought of recreation as a positive thing to do, but why is it that many of us do recreational activities and at the end of the day feel de-energised and wrung out? Sometimes vowing never to do “that again”.
We do “recreation” because it is good for us, right? We relax, it isn’t work so it must be good for us!
How do you spend your recreation time? Is it relaxing? Or has recreation become more about work-reation or wreck-reation.
Have a look at what the word is actually saying:
Re…Creation
It’s a word that has its roots in the
- Latin recreation – restoration, recovery
And in the
- Latin recreatus – to create again, revive.
This little word means so much more than a break from work, or relaxing or hobbies, or having fun. It has a far more profound meaning. At its root “Re-creation” is about renewal. It is a word that implies undoing what has been lost, damaged, harmed in some way and giving it new life, energy and vigour.
Next time you are out and about doing wreck-reation. Toss the guilts about what has to be done and do some re-creating to enable you to restore and recover from the draining effects of everyday living. Take time to “be” you, whether that is on your own, with friends or with your family. Re-creating is necessary to help and prepare us to get on with the task of living. If we don’t take time to re-create and only ever work-reate or wreck-reate we will become tired, stressed, anxious and depressed. Work and recreation can both be enjoyed if there is a sensible and achievable balance.
What are some ways that you can re-create to help you with the day to day routine of life?
Reference:
WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2017
http://www.wordreference.com/definition/recreation
http://www.wordreference.com/definition/recreate
