Holiday ‘moral relaxing’ is not just an indulgence of the young. Given the opportunity to take time off work we all tend to relax not just our bodies and minds but also our morals.

And in one good sense of the word ‘leisure’, we are right to do so. The word derives from the Middle French leisir meaning ‘to be permitted’, which in turn stems from the Latin licere, from which comes ‘license’.

So leisure is license, freedom – specifically freedom from work and duties – allowing you to be at ease, to seek pleasure, and to lay aside obligations and rules.

Holiday romances embody exactly this and with their aptness to flare and die with equal suddenness, they seem to represent little harm in their ‘immorality’.

Holidays are meant to contrast with school term time or work and be far more desirable. But if leisure is better than work it also has to be a time of activity, because mere idleness, after a time, is burdensome to most.

Paradoxically doing nothing is not in fact restful – an empty mind is a mind distressed. If work and school are concerned with life’s necessities, leisure is concerned with cultivating its amenities.

It’s a time to reflect, to deepen understanding, to further friendships and to pursue excellence. It’s a time to flourish. So leisure is not in fact the opposite of work, it’s something better: the opportunity to work for higher ends.

Turn to our FOCUS to see how parents prepare for their children’s homecoming and then see this week’s HOW TO to get some ideas on how to spend your holidays.

Remember the holidays are about resting and having fun but once you are rested use your leisure time to thrive.

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