What were your impressions of the recent lunar new year holidays? Apart from passing out "red envelopes," spending extravagantly on feasting, being trapped with your families in traffic jams, feeling exhausted and impatient and complaining about the new year's journey home, do you have any joyful and warm memories of the holidays? Perhaps we modern people, especially we Taiwanese, are trapped in a predicament where our leisure activities have become automatic. Thus, despite the material life we enjoy, our minds seem to be quite empty.
The lunar new year has developed as the most significant Chinese holiday and is based on the spirit of a traditional, agricultural society. In Taiwan, now an industrialized society, however, the festive atmosphere of the new year holiday is fading away as our relations with people, as well as with the land and the natural environment, have gradually become estranged. Hence, the following situation has become a common phenomenon islandwide: once families and relatives from all sides have gathered together and greeted each other, they then find it impossible to turn their eyes away from the TV or computer games, or they over-indulge in eating and drinking.
Meanwhile, tourist destinations country-wide become overcrowded. People have to wait in line for hours in order to see or get the latest craze -- such as the Taipei zoo's king penguins or the terra cotta warriors, or buying the so-called "good luck" train tickets for the route between Yongkang (永康) and Pao-an (保安). Moreover, when urbanites drive all the way to a famous holiday spot, all they care about is finding a nice location for a picnic and then eat and drink extravagantly while talking and laughing loudly. The beautiful scenery, for them, is nothing but a backdrop in front of which they make pigs of themselves. While their sense of taste is satisfied, the senses of hearing and seeing are entirely ignored.
Taiwan's urban youth are just like pets carefully raised by their parents. While travelling during the holidays, many children are completely preoccupied with eating pack after pack of snacks, playing with Gameboys, or sinking into deep sleep in the car. Some might complain that the beautiful scenery outside the car windows is tedious, and show no interest in the natural environment at all.
In fact, the history of personal leisure is always tied up with one's work and family background. The role one plays in the family and at work, as well as the family and social resources one is able to enjoy, deeply influences the level and degree of freedom one enjoys in choosing one's leisure activities. Generally speaking, the purpose of leisure activities should not be passively killing time. Instead, it is an important opportunity for us to pursue our own ideals and to achieve self-fulfillment.
US leisure scholar John R. Kelly's "lifespan development approach" suggests leisure and recreation can be taken as a necessary process of human development throughout life. For example, in childhood, the ability to enjoy leisure activities may be established as children learn to explore the possibilities in life. Later, as adults, leisure provides a context for trying out new things outside our fixed routines and serves as a chance for us to work with others harmoniously, as well as to appreciate the beauty of life. Thus, people may gradually find the meaning of life through leisure activities and eventually complete their human development. Leisure, therefore, serves as a great chance for us to reflect on our lives so that we can purify our minds and prepare for a rebirth.
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