In the cornucopia of amusement, where the luscious fruits of television, video games, and social media often reign supreme, it is easy to overlook the healthy grains of creative production. Entertainment is a double-edged sword; it can be a catalyst for growth or a silent time thief. So how do we opt for the former? The answer is simple yet transformative - divert energy from consumption towards creation.
Contrast of Entertainment
We can paint the entertainment landscape with two broad strokes - Passive Entertainment and Engaged Entertainment.
Passive Entertainment: The daily means of such entertainment are watching TV, browsing and chatting on social media, playing video games, and gossiping for just passing time. You better term these as ‘unnecessary’ forms of entertainment. These often serve as an escape, a way to relax and momentarily forget the strains of daily life. However, they rarely leave us enriched.
Engaged Entertainment: The nourishing grain; activities that not only amuse but also fertilize our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. It involves creating, learning, and adding value to ourselves and others. This form of entertainment can morph into a fulfilling career or a hobby that invigorates the spirit.
Channeling Entertainment Energy
Let’s explore how to channel our entertainment energy into creative production and why it is a lucrative investment.
Nourish the Mind and Soul
Engaging in creative activities such as writing, painting, or crafting has been proven to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. For instance, penning down your thoughts and weaving tales can be cathartic and therapeutic if you have a penchant for storytelling. This not only entertains you but also has the potential to touch the lives of others when shared.
Cultivating Skills and Knowledge
Instead of watching endless TV or online shows, make something to entertain others. Creating a worthy presentation or product gives others entertainment and equips you with skills that last a lifetime. Similarly, putting down the TV remote or mobile phone sets, picking up a guitar, learning a new language, or writing something new can open doors to new worlds and cultures.
Intersection of Passion and Career
When your career is rooted in creativity and passion, work morphs into play. Graphic designers, content creators, and app developers often find themselves engrossed in their craft, losing track of time. Apart from earning a living, they are continuously learning and evolving by doing so, and they never get bored with their professions.
Creating Lasting Value
Producing something of value creates a legacy. A beautiful garden, well-crafted furniture, or an insightful blog post can be sources of pride and accomplishment. They outlive the fleeting pleasure derived from passive consumption and often become gifts that keep on giving.
Family Time: Entertainment's Heartbeat
Time spent with family members transforms ordinary moments into cherished memories. These moments stitch the fabric of belonging, whether it is sharing stories around the dinner table, going outside for a walk together, or simply enjoying each other's company in comforting silence. In this haven, we find not just entertainment but the quintessential human experience of love, support, and unbreakable bonds.
Embrace Exercise Daily as Entertainment
Though often met with reluctance, the rhythmic dance of muscles during a workout sings to the body and soul. A mere 30-minute daily exercise can sculpt your physique and paint your spirit with vigor. It is a celebration of your strength and vitality. As you revel in this newfound energy, the mirror reflects a fitter body and a more radiant you. Make exercise a habitual gala, and let your fit body be the life of the party for a sound soul.
Helping Hands Find Peace
When you extend your hand to uplift others, a symphony of fulfillment and peace orchestrates within you. This form of entertainment transcends the ordinary. The smile you kindle on a struggling soul's face or the hope you sow in a weary heart doesn’t just alleviate their pain; it gives you a taste of exceptional joy and a reason to cherish your own existence.
Above all, it is essential to strike a balance. While there is room for passive entertainment, incorporating creative production into our leisure time can yield bountiful harvests for our minds, souls, and societies. Engaged entertaining activity is like planting a seed – it requires effort and nurturing, but the resulting blossom is infinitely more rewarding than the fleeting allure of mere consumption. As George Bernard Shaw wisely said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Keep playing, but play wisely.
BDST: 1347 HRS, JULY 8, 2023
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