THE SECRET TO SUCCESS: LEISURE

Leisure is a powerful tool when used properly. How does one use leisure properly? Well, first we need to define what leisure is. Most people hear the word leisure and instantly picture lounging around doing nothing, and rightfully so. Leisure is formally defined as "freedom provided by the cessation of activities." However, if you look back to early Greece, school referring to a place of learning traces back to scholē, which meant "leisure." To the Greeks, leisure meant taking time to think about things. So leisure time was time for learning. Is it just me or have we gotten much lazier?

Learning is very much an activity, so we're going to go with the OG Greek definition of leisure. But that doesn't mean you have to be reading a textbook or studying quantum mechanics. Leisure can include playing an instrument, drawing, listening to music, hiking, practicing yoga, spending time with a loved one. All of these activities can be looked at as learning experiences. If spending time with another person you're learning about them. If doing something active you're learning about that activity. Instead of cessation of activity, our new approach to leisure is cessation of hurry or stress. The adverb, 'leisurely', is a better description being defined as: without hurry.

Leisure time is where we want to foster and build our personal relationships. And remember, all good relationships start with building a good relationship with your true self. To build a relationship with your true self requires understanding who you truly are. To understand who you truly are requires a lot of thinking. A lot of thinking about a lot of things. A lot of thinking that can be done leisurely. I discuss this a bit more in a different writing.

Take the time to discover yourself and others. This means trying new things. Play an instrument, go for a hike, listen to new music. We need to venture outside our experienced world to discover more about who we are. Discovering who we are is the longest educational experience of our lives. One that most people are afraid to experience—and sadly one that most people will distract themselves from facing. And special thanks to social media for making distracting yourself easier than ever. A tool isn't a tool unless it's used as a tool. Use your tools wisely. Understanding yourself is step one to being successful, whatever you have defined as success for yourself.

Far more to unpack here, but I want to go make another cup of coffee. Get out there and leisure.

~ Bonde