A thought provoking topic for any age or stage!
Let us have a quick look at the real meaning of these two terms – ‘therapeutic values’ and ‘hobbies’ before we go deep into the subject and see the significance and relevance of the topic in this fast moving society.
Revised OXFORD Dictionary will show the meaning of therapeutic as 1. of, for, or contributing to the cure of disease 2. contributing to general, esp. mental well-being.
‘Hobby’ – favourite leisure-time activity or occupation
Well! Can a leisure time activity have a curative power – power to cure the physical or mental well- being of an individual?
If “YES’ is the answer, let us examine how it is!
As accepted by the society, a long list of such leisure- time activities can be furnished. These activities vary depending on the age, stage, sex etc. Let us first survey such activities and then relate the same to the therapeutic values, if any.
Walking, running, jogging, gardening, pet-rearing, writing, reading, painting, drawing, gazing at the sky, watching the birds, watching the trees and flowers, watching the TV, listening to radio, playing indoor–out door games, stamp collection, coin collection, collecting cartoons, collecting antiques, drinking, chit-chatting, cruising, mountaineering,
Serving the handicapped, motoring, horse- riding, watching the games, house-keeping, sitting quiet and simply observing the passersby, chanting, mending repairs, social service, sitting simply, photography, collection of books, maintenance of library, collection of idols, collection of old cassettes (audio-video-gramophone records etc),
collection of rare leaves and flowers, collection of photos/portraits of national- international leaders, collecting the autographs of VIPs, collecting the photographs of children, collection of pens of different makes and periods, collection of letters from the celebrities and the list can go on endless!
Some of the hobbies are negative and some are positive in nature! There is always a risk of a ‘hobby’ becoming a ‘habit’ and one finds an addiction to the loved hobby and often one finds extremely difficult to extricate from the clutches of the so called ‘hobby’- which is supposed to be only a ‘leisure-time activity’ or ‘occupation’!
In as much as the topic of the essay expects the author to deal with only the ‘therapeutic values of the hobbies’, in the interest of acquiring an overall picture of the concept, it may not be considered out of place to swerve a little here and there!
‘Hobbies’ have its own toll on ones finance as some are very costly and hence many feel that the ‘hobby’ as such is a luxury! It may be right at times and in a way. But there are several ‘hobbies’ which needs no financial outlay. It all depends on one’s attitude and perceptions.
Well! As the meaning of the terms which we saw at the beginning, some of the positive hobbies have definitely therapeutic values which we shall analyze for a while. For young or old, lettered or unlettered, rich or poor, male or female, employed or unemployed, in service or out of service, in active service or retired one has to meet the challenges of life and in the process one has to undergo a lot of stress and strain. It is perplexing that man alone falls a victim to the stress and strain. Stress the killer is to be killed !
What is stress and what is strain
All is a matter of human brain.
Stress can be a killer of man
May be in a short time span
Deserves to be killed by easy means
With will and wit and cozy ways!
Causes of stress may be in plenty
One need not worry even in sixty
Fear of failure often a cause
Which need not be one well because
Unknown result, unheard melody
Sure to provide sweetness and joy!
Nature has its stress and strain
Animals have their stress and strain
Machines have their stress and strain
Man has his and why in pain?
Stress is one omnipresent
Easily coped sure by the competent
On the body and on the mind
On the soul and on the intellect
Age and sex, wealth and status
Stress of course has little respect!
Faith in God, self and people
Fair to all with love and scruple
Thoughts noble and deeds worthy
Happy hobbies and habits healthy
Love for nature, animals and people
Through stress and strain none can topple!
Yes! Some of the hobbies referred to above have positive effect in reducing the strain and stress on the mind and body. And thus it has been scientifically proved that the hobbies have therapeutic values.
Stress is defined as any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well being and thereby tax one’s abilities.
Threat may be to immediate physical safety, long range security, self-esteem, reputation, peace of mind and many other things that one values.
All our worries, tension and anxiety will lead to a kind of unusual physical and psychological state which becomes a disturbance or irritation or danger.
Both body and mind needs rest, relaxation and refreshment. When the blood circulation is not regular, functioning of lungs is imperiled and digestive system is adversely affected normally medical intervention is called for. However, when relaxation techniques are properly employed, these disorders can be set right and there comes the therapeutic effects of the hobbies.
Walking, running, jogging etc are normally considered to be physical exercises. But many take to them as hobbies and this has a salutary effect on the physical fitness.
Some of the hobbies like gazing at the sky, enjoying nature, observing the flying of the birds and their chirpings, enjoying the beauty of the trees and flowers, looking at the night sky with its splendorous moon and stars quietens the ruffled mind and thus gives the body and mind a great amount of relaxation and thus the curative effect of the hobbies can be experienced.
Always listening to music is a great therapy and it has been scientifically proved that a plant exposed to music grows tremendously.
Psycho-somatic disorders take a toll on the individual’s health and physical well-being. If one feels neglected he may get asthma; if one is always under some urgency, he may get frequent diarrhea; if one is under constant threats he is liable to get hypertension and so on. It is essential that a person subjected to stress must divert himself from the stress inducers and there the hobbies such as indoor-outdoor games, painting , drawing, photography etc play a valuable role.
Thus it can be seen that the hobbies - right and positive ones- have a very good therapeutic effect on the individuals. Hence it is of utmost importance that each individual must cultivate some good and positive hobbies. Just as habits and attitude are not hereditary or pre-destined, but acquired by the individuals and shaped by environment, education and experience, ‘hobbies’ can also be acquired. It should be in the fitness of things that one should take to some good and positive hobbies right from young age and derive the therapeutic values of the same.
************
