I try to avoid lengthy quotes, but William Bennett's introduction to his chapter on work in The Book of Virtues seems so apropo, it would be a shame to leave out too much of it:
"The opposite of work is not leisure or play or having fun but idleness---not investing ourselves in anything. Even sleeping can be a form of investment if it is done for the sake of future activity. But sleep, like amusement, can also be a form of escape--oblivion sought for its own sake rather than for the sake of renewal. It can be a waste of time. Leisure activity or play or having fun, on the other hand, can involve genuine investment of the self and not be a waste of time at all."
"Happiness, as Aristotle long ago pointed out, resides in activity, both physical and mental. It resides in doing things that one can take pride in doing well, and hence that once can enjoy doing. It is a great mistake to identify enjoyment with mere amusement or relaxing or being entertained. Life's greatest joys are not what one does apart from the work of one's life, but with the work of one's life."
"Parents show their children how to enjoy doing the things that have to be done by working with them, by encouraging and appreciating their efforts, and by the witness of their own cheerful and conscientious example." (emphasis Bennett's)
1 comment:
Love that Amanda! I have a wall plague that says "Things won are done, but joy's soul lies in the doing."
Sara
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