Relative Leisure

We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter and her husband who are coming from Minnesota to visit for a few days. We're hoping for good, warm weather and bright blue skies usually expected this time of year in New Mexico; however, the weather forecast isn't good. Don is looking forward to sorting through his collection of old family photographs and genealogical records rather than spending time outdoors anyway, so it really doesn't matter. I'm happy that they can relax and enjoy some time away from their jobs and other obligations. And this way I can delay unpacking from a week away and relax enough to enjoy integrating the information acquired at the seminar.  It's fascinating how often we need an excuse to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family. It's interesting to note the value placed on hard work and exercise rather than restful introspection.  A friend sent me a link to an enlightening article about how we spend our leisure time and whether it's possible to become comfortable relaxing at all. According to the article, "the notion of leisure [traced] to its ancient roots illustrates how astonishingly distorted, even inverted, its original meaning has become over time: The Greek word for 'leisure,' σχoλη, produced the Latin scola, which in turn gave us the English school... once intended as a mecca of 'leisure' and contemplative activity."  Click here to read the article.