Q u i e t f e e t: Power of Recess

Touch football, outdoor hoop, dodge ball, or get in line for wall ball? What great options to choose from. Recess is just that - a menu of athletic choices. It was a three times a day occurrence when I was a kid in the 70's. Before school started there were the regulars who were in front of the 20 foot wall in line to play wall ball. The equipment needed; one classic grade school playground red ball. I can smell the rubber of that ball, hear the sound it made and remember how good it felt to whail on it with my right arm while playing. Some sweat built up, a bit of dirt on the arm and and I am off to my classroom with my buddies to start the day. Two more recesses coming -- what a concept!

Recess energized myself and my pals. It allowed us to interact, compete, laugh, and a chance to showcase our skills in front of the girls gallery. All these things made recess a true treasure. After school we had 2 hours of time to plan the next recess at the local park, neighborhood street, or the flat driveway of a pal's house to play hoop. Does it get any better I thought? No, it does not.

So as we mature in life, recesses go into the memory bank of our minds. We have now grown up, taken on responsibilities and that kind of activity is just for kids. Is it really? Does it have to be like this? No, it does not.

Bob Smith the business owner can shoot hoops in the morning with his kids before they catch the bus to school, get in a game of squash on his lunch hour, and hit the trail with his wife for a healthy 2 mile run outside his home after work.

Recess is making time to do it. We have been brainwashed with the message of exercise being "3 times a week" like that is a threshold of some sort. Recess is every day like it was in grade school...DAILY. Get off your butt, spread some recess to yourself, your family, and have some fun. Recess could be 10 minutes of dancing to some cheesy boogie wonderland tune, or joining in on the kickball game at the end of the cul-de-sac where you live. Recess means movement and some sweat to go with it.

Do it like we did in the 70's. Throw, catch, run, sprint, hop, get muddy if you choose. The bell is about to ring and it's the sound of recess.