Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010
Recreation time
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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I was thinking today how much it might benefit my newspaper to start having recess time.
Look at how productive we were in grade school when we got to go outside at least twice a day, run around like maniacs for 20 minutes or so, play tag, chase some girls, race each other and play dodgeball, kickball or any kind of ball.
Recreation time has always been pretty important to me and, as I am finding as I age, a great stress reliever.
Sure, hitting the gym a few days a week getting some runs and walks in are good for all of us. Getting the heart rate going in a competitive fashion is extremely rewarding, at least in my world.
I used to love getting the bowling team together at Lunar Bowl once a week for a little friendly competition. Even though I have been bowling since I was 6 or 7, I never really improved much over the last 30 years. My average games still hover in the 130s or 140s.
I just can’t pick up my spares, but that’s a different story.
There was a time when I was on a bowling team and softball team at the same time, which really got the competitive juices flowing each week.
I still play softball every week and, even with the extreme heat and humidity of late, it is still a rush to get out and take the field.
As we transition to the fall and, finally, this heat streak has snapped and we are getting some cooler evenings, I am really going to be itching to get out play again.
Sure, I have a kid on the way. And yes, a few weeks ago I did something to my left shoulder that still hurts when I raise my arm too far over my head.
But those things shouldn’t stop me from continuing to play, right?
My regular team isn’t convening for its usual fall session, so, I guess I am on the free agent market. Once upon a time, I played in a league at Young Park, so, I know that field pretty well. A sharp liner to right-center field can easily spell a triple there.
Well, OK, that was a few years ago. Today, that hit is maybe just a double.
Either way, playing and competing still means a lot and feels great to a lot of us. I suppose it keeps us young and, in a way, a little spirited.
Since a prolonged recess is probably frowned upon in the corporate environment, perhaps I will just take the troops outside for a game of whiffle ball or kickball.
Or maybe it’s time to bowl against The Examiner again. We still owe them a little payback.
John Beaudoin, is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail jbeaudoin@bluespringsjournal.com.
