Leisure Definition - Aga Tomczyk [atomcz2]

This particular picture was taken this summer at Montrose Beach, downtown Chicago. To me, the beach represents relaxation and time away from “the real world.” It’s definitely one of my favorite places to go to and a “base camp” for quite a range of activities. If you don’t see me down there with my family or friends, I’m probably running or biking along the shore, reading, drawing… or stalking the fishermen. That was a lame attempt at a joke, but now that I’ve said it, it doesn’t sound like a terrible idea; those men seem interesting. Anyway, I feel like spending the day at the beach is one of the few things that people can do for fun while living in the city when long vacations aren’t a possibility. And that’s exactly what I do. I feel like nature has a gift of being able to dissolve people’s problems, even if it is just for a couple of hours, or even minutes. I could almost say that “the beach” is my definition of leisure, because to me leisure means freedom; freedom of doing the things that you otherwise wouldn’t have time for… freedom to relax and enjoy life.