Philosophy of Recreation

Personal Philosophy

Over the past two decades, being physically active and outgoing has been a way of life in the Breen household. Being involved in sports and recreational activities has made my family a very tight knit bunch allowing us to escape the troubles of our everyday life and enjoy the pleasures of the world. Having the privilege of being a student athlete at the division 1 level and now the division 2 level has allowed my family to travel many miles to games, and many recreational activities. During the years of traveling, we have also had the opportunity to see amazing sights across the country. Having the ability to be involved in multiple activities in sports and recreation has taught me discipline and time management, resulting in better grades earned since arriving on a college campus in fall of 2017. Throughout this paper I will share insight of my personal views on my philosophy regarding both sports and recreation. The philosophy I will be discussing are from personal experiences that have helped shape my life up to this point and have been instilled in me from a young age.

My stance and current philosophy regarding recreation is that the time spent outside of work and school is usually something you enjoy, and can be considered recreational activities. I see recreation as being something that can help you unwind from a long day at the office to help clear your mind. Activities can stem from walking to fishing and everything in between. When going about how to view these activities, I would say that I view them in a less competitive format and it’s not so much about the wins and loses but more about getting everyone involved and enjoying what they are doing. Often, those who use recreation as an escape aren't looking at the scoreboard or personal best records at the end of the day, but looking back at the overall experience and how they feel when reflecting upon it after. Being able to reflect and have a new outlook on life is a very valuable asset to have as an escape, especially with how 2020 has gone for a lot of families. With my past experiences in recreation, I have always felt that one common factor I see is the sense of belonging and how those around you have the same interest and have your best interest at heart. In short my definition of recreation is “The act of refreshment of the mind and body through relaxation and enjoyment.”

I see and define sports and recreation as two ideas and two ways to escape the ups and downs that us humans naturally go through daily. Sports are a way to channel your inner competitiveness and use it towards a common goal of victoires with your teammates and peers. Sports are a major outlet to help clear people's minds that are looking to do so in a more organized way that involves rules and regulations. On the other hand, while recreation has the same benefits, recreation can be at times less organized and less strict. It allows you to also venture off on your own and do what you want to best suit your needs to help you enjoy what you do best.

Recreation and sports are important to our communities to help our youth develop and figure out who they are and what they're good at from a young age. The two together allow those participating to feel that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. This outlet encourages those who are participating to be motivated in life, and helps them set goals outside of a sport or recreational activity. In my own personal experience I have seen many of my friends, including myself strive to do better because if I didn’t do my job in the classroom and earn good enough grades, my sport would be taken away. Recreation and sports keep students across the globe in the classroom and give them hope for better days, not just their current situation. Being involved in recreation and sports is treated as a privilege and should not be taken for granted as it can be taken away at a moment's notice. The positives of having recreation and sports in your life daily is that it allows your brain to stay sharp which can positively impact your reflexes and balance, as well as help keep you level headed when things are going good and when times are tough as well.

Staying in-shape is on the long list of why everyone should seek out joining a team, club, or social group. It encourages those around them to stay motivated and active, along with promoting a healthy lifestyle. One aspect of sports that I have benefited from while being involved in sports and recreation are that I was able to meet lifelong friends who continue to help me push forward during the tough times in my life and act as an alternative support system who I can turn to at any time. For this reason I am a strong advocate of having everyone get involved with a wide variety of clubs and sports so they are able to meet individuals that they might have never known otherwise.

My personal experience involving recreation and sports has had an incredibly positive impact on my life and the lives of those around me. The life lessons learned from the wide variety of activities and sporting events I have taken part in have given me life long memories and outlets to relax, and new ways of dealing with stress from everyday life. I strongly encourage those on the border of joining something outside of the classroom and office to do so. These are not always easy decisions, but in the long run it will help you grow. Even if you don’t have a memorable experience, you will always have that moment to reflect on. I am forever grateful for the opportunities to be involved with sports and the discipline it's taught me over the years to help me grow mentally and physically. I hope those who come after me understand how important it is to enjoy every moment they have while it lasts.