Fishing for Therapy & Your Supper: April 2013

Fishing for Leisure

“Everyone has the right to rest and leisure”

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What is leisure? It’s quality time away from one’s normal routine and responsibilities, and is commonly known as R & R (relaxation & recreation). There are distinct differences between relaxation and recreation; one perhaps suggests doing nothing – whilst the other is about doing something. Whichever you choose you can achieve varying levels of leisure satisfaction. Many people choose fishing as it can incorporate both these elements. Perhaps that's why we love it.

Achieving pleasure and satisfaction is the same outcome we experience with eating food, and is just as important in maintaining our health and wellbeing. As with other mammals, we humans are wired for seeking pleasure & satisfaction. Like the salivating Pavlov’s dog, some of us do the same when we see a shiny new fishing reel. We crave satisfaction.

There are different levels of leisure that are defined by the recreational activity and how one goes about participating.

· Project-based Leisure – is short-term recreational activity such as planning a ‘one-off’ fishing expedition that may have other beneficial outcomes besides catching of fish. Project-based leisure may also include a planned family or group bonding session or having the goal to build a fishing rod or learn to tie fishing-flies.

· Casual Leisure – describes an activity that achieves immediate pleasure but with short term intentions. Casual fishers are people who like to have a go at fishing occasionally seeking momentary satisfaction but do not have the intention of pursuing professionalism or a career.

· Serious Leisure - for those who are serious about fully participating in an activity for which they have a passion. They gain immediate satisfaction and want to sustain this and are keen to build or increase their knowledge, skills and resources. Other special benefits may include fulfilling a cultural tradition or trend; creating or maintaining a personal and social identity; opening up career opportunities, and/or can also be about providing sustenance such as fish for consumption.

It is easy to neglect leisure as an important aspect of health and well-being in our fast paced contemporary societies. We sometimes need to remind ourselves, and those around us, of the importance of real recreational leisure time and getting active. That is not blobbing-out on the couch or sitting glued to our Facebook accounts. Participating in recreational activities can offer numerous physical benefits from improving body functioning to reducing risks of the incidence of disease. Coupled with its emotional benefits such as inciting happiness and satisfaction; promoting self-esteem and confidence; and building knowledge and skills, recreational leisure certainly appears more valuable than it is sometimes given credit for.

"What we do during our working hours determines what we have; what we do in our leisure hours determines what we are." George Eastman Innovator & Entrepreneur, Eastman Kodak

If you miss out on quality recreational leisure time you could be neglecting your health and well-being, and as the saying goes, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Exercise your human rights to enjoy leisure time, dust off the fishing tackle, and head out for a fishing spree. You’ll soon be reeling in the rewards.