Capitalism Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Capitalism Structure - Essay Example When a company is going to liquidation due to bankruptcy, it has to repay the debt capital first. The equity shareholders will be paid back their investment only after setting off the secured creditors, debenture holders, preference shareholdersetc. So the companies should deeply analyze financial implications before taking capital structure decisions. In United Kingdom, a secured creditor can even proceed with liquidating the company and claim the amount due to him by the company. Even though the cost of capital plays an important role while taking decision regarding the capital structure, the bankruptcy code also plays a prominent role in the decisions. Therefore, care must be taken while deciding capital structure. The companies cannot make changes in the bankruptcy code, but they can make adjustments in the debt-equity combination (capital structure) of their financial structures in order to accommodate bankruptcy code considerations. This assumes importance since the interests o f equity holders would be compromised or endangered if debt capital is allowed to mount beyond reasonable proportions or as needed by the organisation. Increase in equity capital does not endanger the company's existence or survival, however creditors and loan syndicates could call back their loans, or bring action for claim settlements, thus, putting the company at the doorsteps of bankruptcy. The UK bankruptcy code is a creditor-supportive and a debt-friendly code. That means the debt holders will be having right in deciding the liquidation of the companies. "If the cash flows generated by the project are insufficient to meet debt payments, the firm is in default. Continuation decisions in default are regulated by the bankruptcy code in place." (Acharya, Sundaram and John, p.2). If a company is taking effective and efficient decision regarding the capital structure, it can easily overcome the problems which may arise due to unfavourable bankruptcy code. So while deciding on the ca pital structure, an optimum combination should be selected. While discussing the effect of bankruptcy code in the capital structure decision, the asset-specificity should also be considered. Asset-specificity can be defined as "aspect or feature of an asset (such as a specialized machine) that makes it useful for one or few specific purposes and which, therefore, cannot easily be sold off quickly in a fire-sale." (Asset Specificity: Definition. 2009). If a company has low asset-specificity, it can use more debt capital in the capital structure. If the company is in a situation of liquidation or bankruptcy, it can easily sell off its assets and meet the debts like repayment of creditors, preference shareholdersetc. In other words, if the companies whose assets are fit for providing as security for funds borrowed, can use more debt capital in the capital structure. Because at the time of bankruptcy it will not face any difficulty in repaying the loan or borrowed money as it can sell o ff such assets. Whatever combination is used in the capital structure, the objective of the company should be to increase the wealth of the equity shareholders. If the bankruptcy code of a country is debt capital friendly, it is not better for the companies to follow 'trading on equity' (trading on equity refers to using more debt capital

Simulation and Its Use in Nursing Education Term Paper

Simulation and Its Use in Nursing Education - Term Paper Example All these are types of simulations which are put in one form or the other. Bottom-line, what they all have in common is that they are all done in a mock situation. This is appropriate because the stake holders perform steadfastly in the clinical setting (Keeping, 2008). Discussion Using simulation, it is simple to bridge the gap between the real condition and the ideal condition. A nursing educator would like to put his or her students into the ideal condition of dealing with real patients. This in reality is not possible because the students are not yet fully qualified to handle real patients in the ideal situation (Brown, Crawford & Hicks, 2003). They might just compromise their health. In order to curb this identified need as required by need assessment, simulation is used. Need assessment is a well choreographed process whereby the gaps or discrepancies between the conditions that are faced now and the ideal conditions are established and addressed appropriately. The students are placed in the ideal situation using simulation. ... Associate degree students who are preparing to handle patients in critical conditions are best taught using simulation. This puts them in an almost real scenario without real danger to the patients. Patients suffering from conditions such as Myocardial infarction and Congestive heart failure are in very critical conditions. In congestive heart failure the heart is not able to pump enough blood that meets all the needs of the body. Myocardial infarction on the other hand is a condition where an interruption occurs to the flow of blood to some part of the heart and as a result the cells of the heart give in and die. These students under simulation feel the real urgency and quagmire in a race to save the patients’ lives. They are compelled to have a rush of adrenalin and adopt enhanced critical thinking. Simulation therefore greatly benefits the medical teaching fraternity by alleviating the risk of harming critically ill patients from the inexperience of student professionals (O rme, 2007). Simulation in these critical conditions is however facing significant challenges. It is such a great huddle to cross in trying to create a precise simulated condition of the real situation that goes down in the operation theatres that handle these critically ill patients (Gomm & Davies, 2000). It might be quite a challenge to implement the practicum. Simulations are only the imitations of the real life scenarios. They are not quite the real thing. Going into a simulation environment with the full knowledge that the environment is only an imitation is such a challenge. It compromises the creativity and ability to learn or teach. In order to mitigate this challenge, it is important to try and forget the fact that a simulation is not the real life scenario. It is possible

Scaffolding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scaffolding - Essay Example Scaffolding instructions describe specialized training strategies geared toward supporting learning when the trainees are first introduced to a new aspect. Scaffolding gives trainees a situation, motivation and foundation from which to appreciate the new lessons introduced to them (Coackley, 1994). Tasks that are too difficult will be outside the trainees’ level of developmental scope and might have detrimental effects. Bridging the gap between their actual development and the potential, desired results might not be possible because frustration sets in. A core task of the fundamental steps in scaffolding entails keeping the trainees from getting frustrated. Enabling them to bridge the space between the real and the potentially possible skills depends on the resources or support the coach provides (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). On the other hand, setting the standards too low may drive them into boredom and loss of motivation. In the case of coaching teenagers’ soccer, th e coach’s first step was to build their interest and engage their active participation. The trainees see the coach as knowledgeable about the content of soccer as well as a facilitator with the skills, strategies and processes required for coaching. The coach not only helps motivate trainees by providing basic support to enable them to achieve the objective, but also offers support in the form of modeling and highlighting the critical features of soccer, and providing hints and questions that might help them to reflect (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). Towards this end, the coach requires some personal attributes like pleasantness, a sense of humor, even temper, courtesy, sympathy and enthusiasm (Coackley, 1994). Once the coach achieves participation, he breaks down the training programme into smaller and simpler units. There are specialized drills for strikers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers. It begins with each group identifying what and how they ought to achieve. True player growth takes place when each player’s routine training and playing surroundings are of the best standard (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). Having a consistent environment and a clear visualization of what is ahead for them maximized the trainees’ development. The coach used video clips and specially arranged soccer fields as teaching aids. The coach consistently uses video analysis of both group and individual performance. He develops the analysis in the region of problem solving thoughts. A trade of questions, suggestions and answers between the coach and players and then again between the players themselves is always productive. The coach stressed the significance of video analysis immediately following the activity. That is when the trainee had a feel for the action. Video feedback had its greatest impact in training sessions where evaluation followed by immediate recurrence of the action took place in a coach controlled situation (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). In areas w here the trainees are succeeding, the coach’s and teaching aid’s assistance are reduced. In the same way, he provided more assistance where he observed struggling (Coackley, 1994). Brief viewing periods plus the coach’s analysis were followed by attempts to correct as well as improve on performance. Correction had to be positive, not negative. The coach stopped talking and listened. The idea was to avoid filling the trainees’ minds with details, but allow them to think and analyze for themselves. He was only to

Walmart's retail link system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walmart's retail link system - Essay Example Organizations will use various tools including technological tools to make this process effective, and one among them, which is being commonly used now, is RFID. Understanding their benefits, many well known organizations Harley Davidson, Walmart, etc., are incorporating RFID as part of their SCM, and are getting good results. When one particularly focuses on the RFID usage in Walmart, it is clear that it has been improving its operations, although some privacy concerns are raised against it. System of RFID RFID (short for Radio Frequency Identification) is electronics and Information technology (IT) based tool, which helps organizations to trace their finished products as well as the raw materials needed for making those products in the supply chain. Basic RFID system is made up of three components, a transponder (RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information, an antenna or Reader and a computer or a transceiver (with decoder). RFID works on the concept of invisible radi o waves, emitted by the microchip, which are attached to the consignment of raw materials and products, or even individual products of a particular company including retail company, which are being transported. Then, by using the reader or the antenna, which will detect the invisible radio waves, the position of the consignment or the product can be tracked. Also, the reader decodes the data encoded in the tag's integrated circuit (silicon chip) and then the data is passed to the host computer for processing and retrieval or transfer of the information. (â€Å"Technologies†). This can be used by the retail companies to track both the products and the raw materials being received from the suppliers, as well as the finished products, which are being transported to the supplier or distributor and the eventual customer. In addition RFID can also be used by retail companies as part of their operational processes. Inside manufacturing or assembly units or even storing unit, RFID re ader can identify individual materials, fitted with the RFID tag, and then route them to the relevant sections of those units. RFID in Walmart Walmart, one of the largest retailers, incorporated RFID tags as part of its operations in 2005, when it asked its suppliers to adopt this tool. The main reason for this decision is, it wanted its suppliers to know when the finished goods have arrived at the backdoor of the stores, thereby allowing them to make the plans. Plans in the sense, where to put or route those products, ranging from distribution centers, shop floor to the intended customers. â€Å"The roll-out started in 2005 with a couple of hundred suppliers tagging cases being sent to 2 or 3 WalMart distribution centers in Texas† (â€Å"RFID News†). Schwartz pointed out another application of RFID in Wal-Mart, â€Å"In addition, another RFID tag placed at the entrance to the sales floor will tell the supplier, what is on the sales floor and what is left in the backr oom.† This was expected to aid the suppliers by giving them a good read of their inventory figures, along with sales velocity. However, suppliers opposed this initiative due to issues like installation and maintenance costs (which were put on them by Walmart), ROI (Return of Investment), etc. Such opposition led to problematic implementation of RFID, but Walmart does not want to let go RFID. They wanted to optimally use it and so in 2010, they decided to incorporate it in its 3,000 stores in men's apparel area. â€Å"These are little radio frequency ID RFID tags that are attached to the apparel that allow us to—

Scaffolding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scaffolding - Essay Example Scaffolding instructions describe specialized training strategies geared toward supporting learning when the trainees are first introduced to a new aspect. Scaffolding gives trainees a situation, motivation and foundation from which to appreciate the new lessons introduced to them (Coackley, 1994). Tasks that are too difficult will be outside the trainees’ level of developmental scope and might have detrimental effects. Bridging the gap between their actual development and the potential, desired results might not be possible because frustration sets in. A core task of the fundamental steps in scaffolding entails keeping the trainees from getting frustrated. Enabling them to bridge the space between the real and the potentially possible skills depends on the resources or support the coach provides (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). On the other hand, setting the standards too low may drive them into boredom and loss of motivation. In the case of coaching teenagers’ soccer, th e coach’s first step was to build their interest and engage their active participation. The trainees see the coach as knowledgeable about the content of soccer as well as a facilitator with the skills, strategies and processes required for coaching. The coach not only helps motivate trainees by providing basic support to enable them to achieve the objective, but also offers support in the form of modeling and highlighting the critical features of soccer, and providing hints and questions that might help them to reflect (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). Towards this end, the coach requires some personal attributes like pleasantness, a sense of humor, even temper, courtesy, sympathy and enthusiasm (Coackley, 1994). Once the coach achieves participation, he breaks down the training programme into smaller and simpler units. There are specialized drills for strikers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers. It begins with each group identifying what and how they ought to achieve. True player growth takes place when each player’s routine training and playing surroundings are of the best standard (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). Having a consistent environment and a clear visualization of what is ahead for them maximized the trainees’ development. The coach used video clips and specially arranged soccer fields as teaching aids. The coach consistently uses video analysis of both group and individual performance. He develops the analysis in the region of problem solving thoughts. A trade of questions, suggestions and answers between the coach and players and then again between the players themselves is always productive. The coach stressed the significance of video analysis immediately following the activity. That is when the trainee had a feel for the action. Video feedback had its greatest impact in training sessions where evaluation followed by immediate recurrence of the action took place in a coach controlled situation (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). In areas w here the trainees are succeeding, the coach’s and teaching aid’s assistance are reduced. In the same way, he provided more assistance where he observed struggling (Coackley, 1994). Brief viewing periods plus the coach’s analysis were followed by attempts to correct as well as improve on performance. Correction had to be positive, not negative. The coach stopped talking and listened. The idea was to avoid filling the trainees’ minds with details, but allow them to think and analyze for themselves. He was only to

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late Case Study - 1

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late - Case Study Example The four major management functions, planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling, play a significant role in performing the daily activities of an organization. The concept of planning sets specific goals for organizations, managers, and other employees. In the opinion of Pride, Hughes, and Kapoor (2010), planning assists the management team to understand where the organization is, how to make the organization move along the specified path, and when to take appropriate measures to achieve the targeted organizational goals etc (pp.169-170). Elimination of uncertainties, minimization of impulsive and arbitrary decisions, quick resource allocation, effective use of resources, adaptive responses, anticipative action, and integration of various decisions and activities are other benefits usually obtained from planning. According to Hurd, Barcelona, and Meldrum (2008, pp.42-43), ‘organizing’ is an effective functional element of management that assists the firm to achieve the targets set in the planning phase. Organizing aids a firm to distribute the works effectively among its employees. Organizing is essential to clarify the powers of every manager and the way he has to exercise those powers. This practice will also prevent managers from taking unfair advantages of their position. Similarly, work coordination, effective administration, growth and diversification, sense of security, and scope for new changes are some other fruitful outcomes of organizing. A manager’s level of success or failure is determined on the basis of his/her ability to influence people within the particular department. When managerial individuals effectively deploy their influencing skills, they exude a positive energy that would highly motivate their subordinates. This motivation will directly enhance organizational productivity and thereby profitability. In the view of Marquis and Huston (2009, p. 434).

Recreation, Leisure and Play Essay Example for Free

Recreation, Leisure and Play Essay The idea of leisure has been in existence for many centuries and has come to have many different meanings depending on the period in history or the civilization that it originated from. From as early as Ancient Greece, Rome or Babylonia, the term we now know as leisure has existed in some form or another. As has been widely noted in introductory recreation texts, schole was both the ancient Greek word for leisure meaning, â€Å"serious activity without the pressure of necessity† and is the root of the English word for school (Godbey, 2003). To the ancient Greeks, leisure, education, and culture were intertwined. In other words, learning was available only for the rich, people with the wealth to afford free time. Leisure, as we know it today, has changed from the original meaning of the word. From what I have read and found in various books and articles, Leisure can be defined in 3 different ways: leisure defined as a state of being or a state of mind, leisure defined as an activity, and leisure defined as time. I will discuss the various definitions of leisure today and then discuss my issues with each definition. Leisure Defined as a State of Mind Leisure defined as a state of mind is, in my mind, the least often used definition of the word. The way to understand this concept would be use it in the context such as â€Å"someone who is at leisure†; meaning freedom from anxiety, obligation, or constraint or having an internal locus of control. Locus of Control refers to an individuals perception of main causes of events in life. More simply, having an internal locus of control means that you believe that you are the master of your own destiny. John Neulinger (1974) states: Leisure has one and only one essential criterion, and that is the condition of perceived freedom. Any activity carried out freely, without constraint or compulsion, may be considered to be leisure. â€Å"To leisure† implies being engaged in any activity as a free agent and of one’s own choice. (p. 12) Now I want you to keep in mind this idea of leisure as any activity of one’s own free willed decision because I am going to touch on it again during the leisure defined as time. Leisure Defined as an Activity Leisure defined as an activity is used widely as well. Most people would agree that leisure activity is something that is fun and enjoyable during a non-working time. This idea makes it difficult to pinpoint a leisure activity though. Understanding if the activity is performed for intrinsic or extrinsic purposes may be the deciding factor whether the activity is leisure or not. The distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic properties plays an essential role in stating several interesting philosophical problems. Why am I performing this action? If you are doing the activity because you enjoy it, then you are performing it for its intrinsic value. If you do not want to participate in an activity, but you know that you will benefit from the activity, you are performing it for its extrinsic value. An example would be a person who practices on the piano because they like to play, versus a person who practices piano because they want to win a music contest. Who of the two is experiencing leisure as an activity? Most people would agree that the first person is definitely experiencing leisure as an activity. The second person is where the debate lays. It is the same exact activity as the first person, but the motivation for performing the activity is different. I feel that as long as you, as a free willed individual, choose to perform any activity then you are experiencing leisure as an activity because you are fulfilling your desires. I feel that the only time when you are may not experience leisure is when you are dying. If you have lived a long life and eventually die from old age, I do not believe that you made the decision out of free will to pass away. Although, if a person commits suicide, does that persons free willed decision make the act of dying a leisure activity? Some good questions to ask: If your career is your passion, are you always at leisure? Conversely, is a person without a job always at leisure? Musicians, professional athletes, and the homeless are all specific examples of situations that may help answer these questions. Leisure Defined as Time Leisure defined as time may be the most commonly understood meaning of the word today because of its positive connotations (Martin, 1975). People often use the word leisure and the term free time interchangeably. On the surface this definition seems fine, but as you delve deeper and ask difficult questions, it starts to become less clear. What is free time? Free time is defined as time free of obligations or responsibilities, or time to do with what you please. As Neulinger stated his definition of leisure, performing the activity out of free will is the deciding factor for whether it is leisure or not. This idea brings this thought to mind. All human beings have been blessed with the gift of free will; a consciousness of who we are and of the decisions we make. Without consciousness we would still be aware of what is going on around us, but we would react to it in a reflexive, instinctive way. With consciousness, we can deliberately weigh what the senses tell us, and respond accordingly. If this definition holds true, shouldn’t all of life be considered leisure? Every decision, every action, comes from our decisions of our own free will. If we continue with this thought, some questions arise: †¢ Are there any instances in life that would prevent you from experiencing free will? †¢ Do we always make decisions based on our desires? †¢ Do having priorities that are not in sync with our desires negate our free will? These questions came after having a conversation with my friend. She told me that when you are a parent, you have obligations to your children that may interfere with your free time. This is where the damn breaks open and it is up to the individual to decide. Her question was, â€Å"What if my needs as a parent cannot be fulfilled because I have work to make sure my kids are fed and clothed? † I feel that even though you have the responsibility as a parent to provide for your children, you made the decision to have a child knowing full well the obligations and responsibilities that would ultimately come with that decision. Free time, who would have thought two little words, would bring up so many questions? My Definition of Leisure After contemplating on the various definitions of the term leisure I propose the following: Leisure is the phenomenon experienced by all self aware beings whose decisions are based out of free will, whether those decisions are made in the conscious or subconscious mind of the individual. Recreation Recreation is any activity which is relaxing to humans or provides diversions from their normal routine, and in many ways is also a therapeutic refreshment of ones body or mind. Any activity can potentially be a recreational one. Vacations to exotic islands, sporting events, meditation, watching television, or playing monopoly are all forms of recreation. A key factor to the activity being considered a recreational activity is whether or not it is pleasurable. If the activity is not pleasurable then the activity cannot be considered recreational because it is not rejuvenating to the body or mind. For example, a couple travels to the Caribbean for a second honeymoon. They have planned the vacation far in advance and the tickets and reservations are non-refundable. Upon arriving, the weather is awful and the couple is unable to participate in any of the activities they had planned for the trip. Even though the fact they were engaging in a commercial recreational activity, the weather prevented them from having an enjoyable time and therefore the vacation was not recreating to oneself or another. With the information provided, this vacation would not be classified as recreation. Fairchild defined recreation as â€Å"any activity pursued during leisure, either individual or collective, that is free and pleasurable, having its own immediate appeal, not impelled by a delayed reward beyond itself† (Fairchild, 1944). Another aspect of recreation was presented by Gray and Greben (1974) as: an emotional condition within an individual human being that flows from a feeling of well-being and self-satisfaction. It is characterized by feeling of mastery, achievement, exhilaration, acceptance, success, personal worth, and pleasure. It reinforces positive self-image. Recreation is a response to aesthetic experience, achievement of personal goals, or positive feedback from others. It is independent of activity, leisure, or personal acceptance. (p. 23) This definition is not focused on the activity itself, but on the individual’s reaction to the activity; the individuals state of mind. I would agree that this definition touches the heart of the subject much better. I stated earlier that any activity has the potential of being a recreational activity. This is true because it depends on how the individual feels about the activity. Most people experience pleasure during activities like exercise, sports, relaxing, and vacationing. If you think along these lines then it is easy to understand why some activities are generalized as recreational and why some are not. Although some people consider work pleasurable, most people do not love their job. This is why I believe that work is not universally accepted as recreational. My Definition of Recreation After contemplating on the various definitions of the term recreation I propose the following: Recreation is a positive state of mind achieved during any physical or non-physical activities characterized by feelings which are rejuvenating and recreating to the body and spirit. Play Leisure and recreation as I discussed them are states of mind experienced by an individual. Play, although related to these concepts, is different in the fact that it is a means to achieve this positive state of mind which all living beings desire. Play has existed since the beginning of time. Johan Huizinga (1950) described the characteristics of play as: †¢ Voluntary behavior †¢ Stepping outside of â€Å"ordinary life† †¢ Secluded and limited in time and space †¢ Not serious but absorbs the player intensely †¢ Bounded by rules †¢ Promoting formation of social groups that surround themselves with secrecy As you read the characteristics, you realize that they appear in all forms of play. Although play is a common occurrence within all ages of life, it is a concept that it liked to immaturity in today’s society. The Instinctual Aspect of Play. Play is a puzzle to scientists. Why do animals spend so much time and energy doing such silly things that seem to have no purpose? The struggle for survival in nature is deadly serious. What place is there for activities that dont help animals eat, grow, and reproduce? Play is also very risky. Animals can break bones, pull muscles, or get bitten too hard. In a study of 14 Siberian ibexes (wild goats), more than one-third were hurt badly enough during play to cause limps-a serious concern in the race for survival. And animals can become so wrapped up in play that they are unaware of danger. One study showed that 80 percent of the deaths among young fur seals occurred because the playing pups didnt see predators coming! (Braaf 2003,  ¶ 4) Why is play worth the risk? Many scientists believe its essential for survival-as important as food or sleep. Why Play? Most scientists believe that when animals play, they are practicing skills theyll need later in life. This is why different kinds of animals play in different ways. Young predators, such as wolves, lions, and bears, play by stalking, pouncing, biting, and shaking their heads from side to side. Theyre honing their skills for when they will run down, catch, and kill prey. When a wolf pup chases its own tail, bites it, and yanks it back and forth, the pup is rehearsing skills itll need one day as a hunter. Research shows that smarter animals spend more time playing. Elephants play more than horses. Chimps play more than macaques. Wolves play more than rabbits. And parrots play more than either ducks or sparrows. Smarter animals also play in more creative and complex ways. Not surprisingly, humans and chimpanzees are among the most playful species. (Braaf 2003,  ¶ 9) Here are three questions to start with: Why do humans play? Is play something that is learned, or is it instinctual? And what purpose does it serve in humans? To answer the first question, Godbey (2003) presents the following: If you put a person in a dark tank of water heated to same temperature as their body in a dark room devoid of sound, their need for stimulation will be so great that they will usually start to hallucinate. If you are walking down the street with nothing much absorbing your attention, you may start to notice cracks in the sidewalk and make up a game in which you have to avoid stepping on them. (p. 46) In conclusion, humans need stimulation. If the mind is idle then the person will seek out the stimulation in his or her surroundings. Whether or play is instinctual or learned, I believe that it is both. Most games that we play are learned, such as baseball, hide and seek, or even make believe games such as house. Obviously, not all forms of play are taught though. As in the example from Godbey, a person will make up a form of play if there are no other options for stimulation. Finally to understand the purpose of play in humans we must first discuss the four forms of play developed by Caillois (1958). †¢ The pursuit of vertigo in which one tries to momentarily destroy the stability of perception, escaping reality for the moment. †¢ Games of chance †¢ Make Believe †¢ Contests which require appropriate training, the application of skill, and the desire to win As in animals in the wild, play is used to hone a person’s skill for later in life. Some examples of this are interacting with other children on the playground, which will increase social skills, hitting rocks with a stick, which will increase hand-eye coordination, and cloud watching, which will develop a persons imagination. My Definition of Play After contemplating on the various definitions of the term play I propose the following: Play is voluntary behavior, bounded by rules, experienced by both human and non-human beings, which stimulates the mind and body, prepares an individual for similar future situations, and allows for personal growth within the individual. How Leisure, Recreation, and Play Relate Now that I have discussed my definitions of leisure, recreation, and play, I will explain how my definitions are related to one another. As I stated earlier, Leisure is the phenomenon experienced by all self aware beings whose decisions are based out of free will, whether those decisions are made in the conscious or subconscious mind of the individual. Life, to me, is leisure because of our ability to act out of free will. The question should not be, â€Å"Is this activity a leisure activity? †, but rather, â€Å"Is this activity considered good or bad leisure? † Recreation, I feel, is a subset of leisure. All of recreation can be considered leisure, but not the converse. Recreation is a positive state of mind achieved during any physical or non-physical activities characterized by feelings which are rejuvenating and recreating to the body and spirit. The reason that not all of leisure can be considered recreation is because not all of life is recreating to the mind and spirit. Play is a subset of recreation. Similar to leisure and Recreation, all of play is recreation, but not the converse. Play is voluntary behavior, bounded by rules, experienced by both human and non-human beings, which stimulates the mind and body, prepares an individual for similar future situations, and allows for personal growth within the individual. The main difference is that play is bounded by rules where recreation is not. Some examples of recreation that are not considered play would be meditation, reading, or watching TV. If you look at the following diagram, I think it makes it easier to understand the relationship between all three of the concepts. [pic] Leisure is all encompassing. Within it lays recreation and play. Although they are both within leisure there are still some aspects of leisure that are not considered recreation. This blue arrow points to this area. The red arrow points to the area that is recreational but does not classify as play. Quality of Life The well-being or quality of life of a person is an important concern when trying to understand leisure, recreation, and play in an individual’s life. Understanding quality of life is today particularly important in health care, where monetary measures do not readily apply. Decisions on what research or treatments to invest the most in are closely related to their effect of a patients quality of life. There are many components to well-being. A large part is standard of living, the amount of money and access to goods and services that a person has; these numbers are fairly easily measured. Others components like freedom, happiness, art, environmental health, and innovation are far harder to measure and are generally considered to be more important. There are two main strategies we can adopt to improve the quality of life in our everyday lives. The first is to try making external conditions match our goals. The second is to change how we experience external conditions to make them fit our goals better. Neither of the strategies is effective when used alone. Changing external conditions might seem to work at first, but if a person is not in control of his or her consciousness, the old fears or desires will soon return, reviving previous anxieties. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990, p. 89) For instance, feeling secure is an important component of happiness. The sense of security can be improved by purchasing a gun for home protection, placing security locks on the front door, having an alarm unit installed, or moving to a safer neighborhood. All of these actions would fall under making our external conditions fit our goals better. One also has to understand that perfect safety is, in all reality, not possible and risks are inevitable. Once a person understands this then the threat of insecurity will not have as great of a chance of having a person live in fear; ultimately ruining ones quality of life. In society today, wealth, status and power have become symbols of happiness. People often assume that the rich and famous have very rewarding lives just because of their status. We often assume that life would be better if we were in other peoples shoes. The reality of the situation is that quality of life does not depend directly on what others think about us or what we own, but rather how we feel about ourselves and what happens to us in our everyday lives. Some people today suffer from affluenza, the bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. It is an epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. In layman’s terms, affluenza is experienced when people have the mentality that their possessions is what defines them as an individual. This is not to say that having nice things, being famous, or being is peak physical condition are irrelevant to happiness. These things can be genuine blessings but only if they make us feel better without having to sacrifice other important aspects of our life. Research on happiness suggests that in general, there is a mild correlation between wealth and well-being. Given these observations, instead of worrying about how to make a million dollars or how to win friends and influence people, it seems more beneficial to find out how everyday life can be made more harmonious and more satisfying, and thus achieve by a direct route what cannot be reached through the pursuit of symbolic goals (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990, p. 91). How Leisure, Recreation and Play Affect Quality of Life Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem. The stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. To maintain stability or homeostasis, the body is constantly adjusting to its surroundings. When a physical or mental event threatens this equilibrium, we react to it. This process is often referred to as the fight or flight response. We prepare for physical action in order to confront or flee a threat. When it is part of a natural reaction to challenge or danger, the body’s response is called positive stress. However, when you feel out of control or under intense pressure, you may experience the physical, emotional, or relational symptoms brought on by negative stress. Stress can cause both physical and emotional in an individual’s life. Stress adversely affects reproduction, sexual behavior, and growth. Stress inhibits the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds, flu, fatigue and infections. Leisure, recreation and play are natural ways to reduce negative stress that builds up in the body therefore improving ones quality of life. The human body is like any other system in nature. If we don’t have ways to vent our stress from everyday life through activities that are pleasurable, we will start to experience the negative side effects of stress. Final Thoughts My thoughts on the subject of leisure, recreation, and play before this paper could not be further from where my thoughts are now. I feel that too much emphasis is placed on unimportant things today. Society, more so than ever, has gotten into the habit of treating the symptoms of people, instead of treating the individual. I feel that having a better understanding of the concepts of recreation, leisure, and play and the role they play in your life will ultimately lead to a happier and hopefully longer life. Refrences Braaf, E. (2003). Why animals love to play. Retrieved September 20, 2006, from Find Articles Website: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa4128/ is_200311/ai_n9307508/pg_1 Caillois, R. (1958). Man, play and games. Glencoe, IL: The Free press. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York, NY. Harper and Row. Fairchild, H. (1944). Dictionary of sociology (pp. 251-252). New York, NY: Philosophical Library. 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