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Personal Philosophy Paper

Personal Philosophy Paper

Charlotte M. Pugh
California State University Long Beach

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Personal Philosophy Paper

Abstract
My definition of leisure is free time away from work and other obligations so that you are free to
engage in a worthwhile activity. My definition of recreation is activity done for enjoyment when
one is not working, is morally acceptable, contributes to society, and has some element of
structure and organization. Each element in my definition is important. My definition of play is
engaging in an activity freely chosen for enjoyment and it is unstructured, not serious, and
involves the imagination. While my personal philosophy on recreation and leisure calls for
activities that are worthwhile, this can mean something different to everyone. The purpose of
recreation, leisure, and play is to enjoy life. There have been many experiences that have
influenced my personal philosophy of recreation, leisure, and play. These factors include work,
educational, and personal experiences.
Keywords: leisure, recreation, play

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Personal Philosophy Paper

Introduction
My personal philosophy of leisure, recreation, and play has been influenced by many
factors. These factors include work, educational, and personal experiences. I believe that leisure,
recreation, and play each have their own individual characteristics. These characteristics are
important to know because it will help when providing recreation services as a professional. I
believe that leisure services should be provided in an inclusive manner. Affluent people are not
the only people who deserve to enjoy recreation
Supporting Information
My definition of leisure is free time away from work and other obligations so that you are
free to engage in a worthwhile activity. Leisure can be viewed in two different ways. The first is
leisure as time. This definition says that leisure is time free from obligations such as work and
other tasks. This means that leisure is leftover time. The second view is leisure as activity. This
definition of leisure says that leisure is when one engages in activities that are worthwhile and
for some purpose. My definition encompasses both of these definitions. Leisure is both time free
from obligations as well as engaging in a worthwhile activity. From my experiences and courses
in recreation I have learned that the activity should be worthwhile to be considered leisure. This
is what Aristotle would call cultivation of the mind or diagg, (DeGrazia). The course that
has influenced this definition the most is REC 340, Leisure in Contemporary Society. This class
gave me a basic understanding of leisure and its role in society.
My definition of recreation is activity done for enjoyment when one is not working, is
morally acceptable, contributes to society, and has some element of structure and organization.
Each element in my definition is important. The first element is recreation done when one is not
working. This is important because it means that one has the time to recreate free from

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Personal Philosophy Paper

obligations. Second, it is morally acceptable. This is an important component because it

distinguishes what is right and wrong and how that relates to recreational activities. Third, it
contributes to society in some manner. This means that the activity cannot be something
destructive to society. The fourth component is that there is an element of structure and
organization. This helps distinguish recreation from play. Recreational activities include structure
through rules or set standards. REC 141, Introduction to Leisure Services, played a large part in
shaping my definition of recreation because it taught me the basic principles of recreation.
While my personal philosophy on recreation and leisure calls for activities that are
worthwhile, this can mean something different to everyone. This is an important element in my
philosophy. What is worthwhile to me may not be seen as worthwhile to someone else.
Therefore, whatever each person sees as worthwhile may be considered leisure under the
assumption that it is socially redeemable. One thing to keep in mind is that what society views as
acceptable changes over time. What was socially acceptable 50 years ago is not necessarily the
same today.
My definition of play is engaging in an activity freely chosen for enjoyment and it is
unstructured, not serious, and involves the imagination. This is different from recreation and
leisure because it is not serious and is imaginative. Play is usually described as a childrens
activity, but adults can also engage in play. Play is an important factor in the development of
children. It aids in the development of their imagination and individuality. The life of a child
should be one of adventure and exploit, (Nash, 1960). Nash believed that children need to have
adventures and take risks because it is an important part of their development. My definition has
largely been influenced by Professor Hudgens. I took her course titled Universality of Play.

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Personal Philosophy Paper

Through this course I learned that play is a very important activity, especially for youth, and has
many benefits.
The purpose of recreation, leisure, and play is to enjoy life. People tend to spend so much
time working and not enough time participating in recreation and leisure. Participants hope that
their recreation pursuits can help them to balance their lives and refresh themselves from their
work as well as other mandated activities such as housecleaning, child rearing, and so on,
(Hurd, 2010). Recreation is an escape from the demands of everyday life. It can bring balance
and happiness into ones life if implemented correctly. Because of this, I believe that
opportunities for recreation should be available to everyone. Inclusive practices should be a top
priority when delivering leisure services, especially in municipal recreation which is my intended
area of practice.
There have been many experiences that have influenced my personal philosophy of
recreation, leisure, and play. The first and foremost it where and how I was raised. I grew up in
the foothills of the Sequoia National Park. This developed my love for the outdoors and
introduced me to the many benefits of recreation and leisure. The second experience that
influenced me was taking REC 325, Advanced Program and Event Management. This class
opened my eyes to recreation as a degree option and I changed my major soon after beginning
that course. The third experience that has influenced me is my work in the field of recreation. I
started working in municipal recreation a year ago and it has definitely been an eye opening
experience.
Conclusion
My philosophy will guide me in my personal life as well as in professional practice. My
views on recreation, leisure, and play will influence my decisions and professional practice. I

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Personal Philosophy Paper

will make sure that the programs I implement will be delivered in a way that is inclusive,
accessible, and equitable. The importance I put on recreation as a part of everyones life will be
apparent through my actions as a professional and an individual. I have very strong beliefs about
what leisure, recreation, and play mean. There have been many events in my life that have
shaped these attitudes. Based off of my beliefs and how much I value recreation I believe that I
will be an effective recreational professional. My life experiences and, above all, education has
prepared me to provide opportunities for leisure services in the area of municipal parks.

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Personal Philosophy Paper

References
Grazia, S. D. (1962). Of time, work and leisure. New York: The Twentieth Century Fund.
Hurd, A. R., & Anderson, D. M. (2010). The park and recreation professional's handbook.
Human Kinetics.
Nash, J. B. (1960). Philosophy of recreation and leisure. WC Brown Co..