SELF-AWARENESS PROGRAMMING:
Should Recreation Get Into It??

by Dr. Constance 0'Connor

To open, a question: In an age of leisure, who will be the kings? By kings I mean those prestigious persons of authority whose wisdom answers the questions of the times. In a world of mass leisure, who will they be?

In a primitive age these so-called "kings" were the best hunters. In a Golden Greek era they were the best athletes, artists and philosophers. In a self-indulgent Roman age they were the wildest party throwers. In a feudal age they were the land owners and priests. In a self-understanding psychological age they are the psychiatrists, gurus.

In a leisure age, who will they be? I think they will be us.

But will we realize the opportunity when it comes?

I believe that there is an opportunity knocking at the door of public recreation right now. If we answer, we can almost assure our profession a period of strong growth, while at the same time easing the personal leisure problems of masses of people. If we do not answer, we will miss out on our trip to the top, that heady climb for the recreation profession that will lead to one of the most exciting eras in history.

Just what is this opportunity that could lead to change in a profession and a society? It seems to be one that lies with the "un-doing" of three strong problems in our society today. These problems prevent people from utilizing their leisure time properly and, most certainly, from coming to our recreation centers. These three problems are boredom, stress and loneliness.

If you are not convinced that these are major problems in our society today, just open your eyes and you shall see. Also look at the magazine articles, books, television programs and newspaper articles on these subjects. The problems are there and they seem to enter into the basic purposes behind our field.

Often it is our task to stand on our values pedestal and publicly relate the story of recreation to the world. We say that recreation helps people to relax, to form friendships, and provide a variety that keeps boredom away. But we rarely mention actually fighting the monsters of stress, loneliness or boredom that are a reality everywhere. We would appear to preach the idealistic and avoid the realistic.

I'm sure that you know stress is killing and crippling millions of Americans with heart failure, ulcers, headaches, divorce, inability to sit down, and absent-mindedness. How many people do you know who think so polyphasically (several things at once) that they cannot remember where they put the car, the keys, the kids? Shouldn't we be in the relaxation business? What about a relaxation clinic?

Are you aware of all the loneliness lurking in your communities, despite the fact that there are slim-trim classes and senior citizen bus tours? Are you aware that many individuals in your community may have warmer feelings toward electronic friends than for real, living companions? Also, more people may have clocked more hours with those television "loves" than with any "real" social buddies. Where is the profession of recreation while all this plugged-in friendship is going on? Shouldn't we be encouraging the "real"? Shouldn't we be in the friendship promotion business?

And lastly, do you really know the facts about boredom? Some medical experts have gone as far as to say that boredom can and does kill. To anyone who has gone through it, it is obvious that boredom destroys energy and zest. Boredom can prevent friendships because an individual may not have the energy to seek out people. And even if he did he may feel too uninteresting to anyone else to be a social possibility. Shouldn't we be in the boredom fighting business?

MANY LEISURE WASTERS TODAY

Inside and outside of recreation centers and programs, people are wasting leisure in our society today. In many cases they just don't understand its overall value to their lives. They may not be aware enough of their own needs beyond work or school to be able to use free time creatively. Many will tell you they have no free time, though they may openly state they watch television some 40 hours a week.

Some people pursue leisure interests, but the leisure interests are often those more valuable to other people and do not seem to fit their own needs at all. Such follow-fold seems to have a strong sense of "oughtism." Ogden Nash had an interesting term for this kind of other directed person. He felt that they were suffering from a "hardening of the oughteries." Often we tend to believe we "ought" to enjoy people, take part in physical activity, exercise our minds, be more playful with our families. Such things are enjoyable in themselves, but perhaps some people have to learn how to enjoy them through leisure education.

LIGHTING THE WAY OUT OF THE LEISURE WASTELAND

But what can we do about it? How can recreation get into the self-awareness act? How can we help people through the rough spots of the leisure wasteland?

Recreation professionals talk a great deal about the Whole Man Concept. We say we are developing the Whole Man. But, we need to do what we say we do.

Auntie Mame said: "Life is a banquet and most poor fools are starving to death." The leisure services profession could put on banquets, introduce people to the smorgasbord of it all, and show people how to avoid the more dangerous leisure intake.

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THE WAY TO GO—A CLINIC!

The clinic approach is one which seems to work well with today's recreators. A clinic is an event in which one subject is covered in depth in an all-day or weekend period. The compactness and intensity of the situation often causes insights and changes that a more lengthy program does not bring about. Here are a few components of a clinic that are necessary for its success:

1. Social Relaxation Techniques—These are social warm-ups in which people contact other people both physically and mentally. The social atmosphere is definitely relaxed, allowing more to "happen" to the individuals participating.

2. Talk—Some kind of talk should take place that is short enough so that dulling does not set in and long enough to stimulate and give ideas.

3. Guided One-on-One Discussion—This involves two people who share responses to specific questions that the leader asks, allowing a few minutes to respond to each question. Individuals are urged to explore only the question asked by the leader so as not to destroy the build-up effect of the guided discussion.

4. Physical Movement and Relaxation Techniques—Studies have revealed that physical movement is valuable in helping people create their own "uppers." When we move rapidly and to music, norephinephrine is created in our systems and makes us feel good. For best results, it is suggested that 7 to 10 minutes be given to this activity. Such physical movement is also relaxing. Following the physical activity, participants should be asked to relax on mats on the floor and go through some breathing and relaxation techniques. This is probably the very best type of break a group could take. It allows for movement, sharing, laughter, soothing and revitalizing. Total time: from 15 to 30 minutes.

5. Self-Measuring Device—This is in the form of a test, quiz or open response and is an excellent tool for getting into the subject more personally. The person actually invests something of himself in the process.

6. Attitude Adjustment Breaks—Again the individual is asked to relax on the mat while a leader goes through such scripts as:

Changed Event: Looking at an event two ways, one positively and one negatively. With eyes closed and in prone position the participant is asked to feel the bodily and emotional response connected to each way of approaching the situation.

Favorite Place: Leader urges participants to think of a favorite place where they feel secure, warm, happy. Total environment explored.

Fantasy Trip: Leader uses sensory image words to take participant on a mind trip. Example: You are walking through a green scented meadow. You feel good. The wind gently ruffles your hair. . . . All of the above are valuable in that they give a balance to the program. The results are less fatigue and more energy for the program. Too much listening and too much talking without other needs being met can cause a very fatiguing program.

LEADERSHIP: WHAT KIND IS NEEDED?

The main purpose of these clinics is to convince people that their problems are not unique but are shared by many. In order to establish this feeling, it is important that the leadership attitude be friendly, fun loving and concerned. The fun loving aspect must not be left out. It is extremely important in order to take the stigma out of the problem being explored. An "everyone has problems, let's face ours in an open, social and fun way" is the best approach. Getting too deep, becoming morose and overly hostile in a group is not the best atmosphere for discussion of such problems in a recreation center. Hopefully these clinics will lead people to books, programs, and approaches beyond the recreation center where more in-depth explorations can take place. This approach allows for ventilation, sharing, stimulation and ideas, as well as a strong dose of inspiration to action. Some decision-making and goal setting is also a part of each clinic.

BUT THESE IDEAS ARE SO NEW! WILL THEY WORK?

For several years in a row the Colorado Mental Health Association sponsored a "Women's Worry Clinic," an event that was promoted in a highly lighthearted way. There must not have been much of a stigma related to such group worrying efforts, because some 800 turned out for a Sedgwick County "Women's Worry Clinic," with 492 showing up in Denver.

I wrote an article about this unique sort of self-

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awareness event. It was published in the June 1976 issue of NRPA's Parks & Recreation magazine and within two months I had received some 100 letters from specific agencies dealing with leisure services around the United States. Most of the letters were enthusiastic, stating that their agency would like to start such a clinic approach in the fall. Mail still comes in requesting information on this clinic.

In November 1976, NRPA published another article I had written on a boredom clinic. The rationale and plan for such a day was outlined and again many letters were received from people who seem to be saying: "It's about time!" The AAL Reporter has printed two articles on clinics I have conducted, one on Leisure Counseling held in a community recreation center and another called "Recreational Rendezvous." The second clinic was an all-day event held in a shopping mall in which we offered a variety of activities: personality and leisure interest tests; tests for physical fitness; a relaxation tent; a craft fair with mall visitors actually making things; risk activities ("clothes try-ons"); recreational-eating-for-nutrition booth; sports areas for both indoor and outdoor activity; and a nature booth enclosed and 8-feet high complete with animal, rain and howling wind sounds. Again, many letters came in requesting further information.

Recreational professionals have indicated that they are interested.

But, is the public ready for this? Recall the 800 that showed up for the "Women's Worry Clinic." Some 4,000 to 5,000 people took part in the "Recreational Rendezvous." Some 40 people had to be turned away from a "Rendezvous in Relaxation" organized in a local community center because there just weren't enough mats. Some 116 did manage to get through this day's clinic of relaxation, though it would seem amazing that relaxation could take place with the wall-to-wall people present. Evaluations from this, and from other clinics I have conducted, were ecstatic. One man in his mid-thirties declared: "I can't believe you'd do something like this in a recreation center. Man, the times are changing and it's about time. This is what people need, lady!!"

We need to get into the self-awareness-in-leisure business. We need to begin the clinic approach in self-awareness similar to our baseball, baking and pottery clinics. We need to become as interested in tensions as we are in turf, in boredom as we are with balls, and with friendlessness as we are with facilities.

Professionals in leisure services, heading toward a leisure age, must reach out to human needs. They are there waiting for what we can supply. The people in need may not even know we—the leisure services professional—exist. And we don't seem to want to know they exist.

But they do, and in enormous numbers.

Let's get into the self-awareness act, and watch our profession grow!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Constance O'Connor is a Professor of Recreation Administration at California State University, Chico. This article is reprinted from the October/November 1978 issue of California Parks & Recreation with permission of the California Park and Recreation Association.

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