Recreation is an integral part of overall wellbeing ~ and an aspect of our lives that we might often ignore. Recreation goes beyond sports and other physical activities and encompasses anything that allows us to feel engaged socially and to get in touch with our sense of fun!
Whether this is about moving your body, exercising your brain, expanding your social circle, or simply creating more space for relaxation, we all have recreational needs that enhance our quality of life.
Most of us can relate to facing barriers like time or finances to support our recreational dreams. Sometimes, this is remedied by simply placing a higher degree of importance on recreational activities or finding ways to access what’s available without spending an arm or a leg.
For many people, meeting personal needs for recreation can be much more challenging.
Recreational Support
For individuals who face physical and intellectual challenges that create barriers to accessing recreational opportunities, supports might be required for full engagement.
This might include direct support to physically get out and participate in recreational activities. Advocacy to expand accessibility to programs can also be beneficial.
Even for those who face no physical barriers to access, it can be comforting and encouraging to have a support system when you take the first steps into new and unknown territories. How many of you have connected with workout buddies to keep your motivation and discipline at a higher level?
Recreation enhances our wellbeing in a holistic way ~ physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and socially. We really can grow and evolve when we are having fun! In fact, the energy of fun often improves our capacity for learning and development. It doesn’t have to be hard work.
Respite and Conscious Service
Recognizing the importance of recreation as an essential ingredient in quality of life is the first step toward Conscious Service in that it honors the holistic needs of an individual.
To engage in Conscious Service is not all about serious business. In fact, the energy of fun and joy is an essential element of Conscious Service that we must not overlook even in the midst of enormous challenges.
Recreation offers us respite from the heaviness we often experience in our lives ~ the demands, the challenges and the obstacles. Sometimes, we all need to step back and let loose.
Families who support each other through difficulty need breaks from the constant pressure that this can often create. And individuals who require support to engage in recreation also need that time away from the challenges of daily life.
We are meant to have fun and enjoy lightness in this life. Recreation and Respite offer us the opportunity to Re-Create our experience.
As we enter the season of spring ~ often a time of re-creation ~ I encourage you to take a moment to embrace the opportunity to kick back and let go! I bet you return to your daily experience feeling refreshed and renewed. And that’s what it’s all about!
Join Us
Amy MacFarlane will join me on the next episode of Serving Consciously airing on Friday March 23, 2018 at 12pm PST at www.ctrnetwork.com.
Amy MacFarlane is the Founder and CEO of Recreational Respite, which provides Therapeutic recreation services identifying ways for children, youth, adults and seniors with disabilities to experience active engagement, participation and access to programs and services in their communities. Recreational respite offers 1 – 1 therapeutic recreation services based on individual needs, interests and strengths.
Amy offers workshops and training for both professional and family caregivers to enhance successful engagement. She is a chosen expert and international keynote speaker, mentor and teacher on the topics of inclusion, accessibility, and removing barriers to active participation.
Amy has been a Top 100 Finalist in the Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award from 2014 – 2018.
Amy was a founding partner and director of Family Caregivers Unite from 2010 – 2015 ~ a social media project with an international scope to support and connect family caregivers. During this time she produced over 300 online radio episodes with a million listeners worldwide.
A mover and a shaker, Amy sits on a number of committees focused on improving programs and services for people with various health and social challenges. She teaches at the post-secondary level and mentors other entrepreneurs.
You can learn more about the services at www.recrespite.com.
Please plan to tune in to learn more about this valuable service, the principles that guide it and the woman who founded and created this program.
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How is your spirit served through recreational pursuits?
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