Business

Serious Play: A Leisure Wellness Guidebook

Without play, both work and leisure become impoverished

Published

2 years ago

August 11, 2021

Jeff Davidson

Late August beckons — a time when and many people will take their longest vacation of the year. Martin Kimeldorf’s book Serious Play: A Leisure Wellness Guidebook (Ten Speed Press) has some choice things to say about leisure, work, and life. Here are my notes and some selected excerpts from the book:

Work, Learning, and Leisure

People have great interest these days in leading a more balanced life, instead of the workaholic existence we are all too familiar with. A balanced life includes work, learning, and leisure. However, it is not easy to find help with the leisure component of a balanced life. There are comparatively few books about leisure.

It seems contradictory to have a serious book about leisure, but if you view time as the most precious renewable resource, then it makes sense to think seriously about the issues of time and money, interests, community, education and retirement.

As we age we often mourn the loss of our playful attitude, and mistakenly call it a loss of leisure time. In his book Waiting for the Weekend, Witold Ribczynski says that the language we use to describe our play sounds more like work. People talk about working out or working at one’s game rather than using phrases which emphasize enjoyment or experimentation.

A substance abuse illness often goes hand-in-hand with a diseased leisure. In fact, most people who abuse drugs do so during their leisure time.

One Telling Hour of Play

Plato said, “You learn more about a person in an hour of play than a lifetime of conversation.” Despite a centuries long tradition of integrating and emphasizing leisure, Western civilization ended up saddled with the work ethic that often overpowers our basic need to recreate and relax in equal measure to our labor.

Inexorably, Westerners accepted the notion that one’s fullest potential could only be achieved through meaningful work. Too true! Without play, both work and leisure become impoverished.

People can find ways to balance their work and leisure values by using inventories, worksheets, reflective riddles, journal assignments, and guides for community explorations. These tools help one to rejuvenate the lost art of play and to find a better balance between work and leisure roles.

Small Shifts, Big Rewards

When you take a serious look at how you use your time, both your attitude and the actual experience of time are bound to change. This change might embrace small shifts in your daily routines, or it can include large direction-changing decisions to live your life in new and more fulfilling ways.

By engaging in fun, the playfulness you once experienced as a child could gradually wind it’s way back into your adult life. You can (re)ignite a passionate interest in the quality of your leisure life by investigating your leisure values, preferences, and interests though an exercise called the leisure search, a simple method of applying proven job-hunting techniques to the search for rewarding leisure opportunities.

It is also possible to help develop a more flexible attitudes toward the wide range of leisure choices available today.

Parting Words

“People do not cease to play because they grow old, people grow old because they cease to play.” ~ George Bernard Shaw. …Well said!

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Jeff Davidson is the world's only holder of the title "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" as awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit www.BreathingSpace.com for more information on Jeff's keynote speeches and seminars, including: Managing the Pace with Grace® * Achieving Work-Life Balance™ * Managing Information and Communication Overload®

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SAVE YOURSELF: Is This The Surefire Way to Protect Your Money in the Inevitable Financial Meltdown?

Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology.

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2023

Chris Widener

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CAN DECENTRALIZED FINANCE BE THE WAY TO SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM MELTDOWNS AND TYRANNY?

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is built on the blockchain, which offers a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries such as banks or other financial institutions. DeFi has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system. In this article, we will explore why DeFi can protect you from a coming financial meltdown and from tyrannical governments.

DeFi is built on the blockchain, which means that it is inherently decentralized. This means that there is no central authority controlling the system, and all transactions are verified and validated by a distributed network of nodes. This makes the system more resilient and less vulnerable to attack or manipulation. Unlike traditional financial systems, where central authorities have the power to manipulate the system, DeFi is designed to be transparent and immutable.

One of the main advantages of DeFi is that it offers greater financial freedom and control to users. DeFi allows users to access a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries. This means that users can transact directly with each other, without having to go through banks or other financial institutions. This gives users greater control over their finances and reduces the risks associated with centralized financial systems.

Another advantage of DeFi is that it is highly transparent. All transactions on the blockchain are public and can be verified by anyone. This means that there is no room for fraud or manipulation, as all transactions are visible to all participants in the network. This level of transparency is not possible in traditional financial systems, where transactions are often opaque and difficult to track.

DeFi also offers greater security to users. Transactions on the blockchain are secured using cryptography, making them virtually impossible to hack or manipulate. This means that users can trust the system, knowing that their funds are secure. Traditional financial systems, on the other hand, are often vulnerable to cyberattacks and fraud, which can result in significant financial losses.

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Furthermore, DeFi is designed to be more inclusive and accessible to everyone. Unlike traditional financial systems, which often have high barriers to entry, DeFi is open to anyone with an internet connection. This means that people who are unbanked or underbanked can access financial services that were previously unavailable to them. This inclusivity is important because it helps to reduce financial inequality and promotes greater financial inclusion.

Finally, DeFi is more resilient than traditional financial systems. DeFi is built on a decentralized network of nodes, which means that there is no single point of failure. This makes the system more resilient to attacks and more resistant to financial meltdowns. In traditional financial systems, a single point of failure can have catastrophic consequences, as we saw in the 2008 financial crisis.

DeFi is a new and exciting financial system that offers a wide range of benefits over traditional finance. It is transparent, secure, accessible, and resilient, making it an attractive option for people who are looking to protect themselves from a coming financial meltdown. While DeFi is still in its early stages, it has the potential to transform the world of finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system for everyone.

SEVEN BENEFITS OF DECENTRALIZED FINANCE

Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology that enables individuals to conduct financial transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions. DeFi uses blockchain technology, which provides a transparent and secure way of conducting financial transactions. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of decentralized finance, along with a brief overview of crypto and blockchain.

Overview of Crypto and Blockchain

Crypto refers to digital currencies that use cryptography to secure financial transactions and control the creation of new units. Bitcoin, which was created in 2009, is the most well-known cryptocurrency. It is based on blockchain technology, which is a decentralized ledger that records transactions in a transparent and secure manner. Blockchain technology provides a secure and tamper-proof way of recording transactions, making it ideal for use in financial transactions.

Benefits of Decentralized Finance

Lower Transaction Costs

Decentralized finance provides a cost-effective way of conducting financial transactions. Traditional financial systems are often plagued by high transaction costs, which are passed on to customers. DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries, which means that transaction costs are significantly lower. This makes it easier for individuals to access financial services and reduces the barriers to entry for new players in the market.

Greater Accessibility

DeFi provides greater accessibility to financial services, particularly for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked. In many parts of the world, people do not have access to traditional banking services due to various factors such as lack of documentation, poor credit history, or living in remote areas. DeFi provides a way for these individuals to access financial services using only a smartphone and an internet connection. This has the potential to increase financial inclusion and reduce poverty.

Increased Transparency

One of the main benefits of blockchain technology is its transparency. Transactions recorded on the blockchain are publicly visible, making it easier to trace the flow of funds. This provides a level of transparency that is not possible with traditional financial systems. Decentralized finance leverages this transparency to provide greater accountability and reduce the risk of fraud. This makes DeFi a more secure and trustworthy way of conducting financial transactions.

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More Control Over Personal Data

Traditional financial systems often require individuals to provide personal data such as name, address, and social security number. This data is stored by banks and financial institutions, making it vulnerable to hacks and breaches. DeFi provides individuals with more control over their personal data by using self-sovereign identity solutions. These solutions enable individuals to control their own data and share it only with the parties they trust.

Greater Flexibility

Decentralized finance provides greater flexibility in terms of financial products and services. Traditional financial systems are often rigid, with limited options for customers. DeFi provides a range of financial products and services, including loans, savings accounts, insurance, and investment products. This gives individuals greater flexibility to choose the financial products and services that meet their specific needs.

Faster Settlement Times

Blockchain technology enables faster settlement times for financial transactions. Traditional financial systems often require several intermediaries to process transactions, which can take several days. With DeFi, transactions are processed directly on the blockchain, which means that settlement times can be as fast as a few seconds. This provides greater convenience for customers and reduces the risk of errors and delays.

Reduced Counterparty Risk

Traditional financial systems often involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that one party will fail to fulfill its obligations in a financial transaction. DeFi eliminates counterparty risk by using smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts that automatically execute when certain conditions are met. This provides greater security and reduces the risk of fraud and default.

Conclusion

Decentralized finance is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform the financial industry. By eliminating intermediaries, increasing accessibility, increasing transparency, providing more control over personal data, offering greater flexibility, enabling faster settlement times, and reducing counterparty risk, DeFi provides numerous benefits that traditional financial systems cannot match. As DeFi continues to evolve, it has the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive financial system that benefits individuals and communities around the world.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Investing in decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrencies involves risk and may result in significant financial losses. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and seek the advice of a financial professional before investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies. The author and publisher of this article are not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies.