In Book VII, Chapter 9 of Politics by Aristotle it states, “Now, since we are here speaking of the best form of government, i.e. that under which the state will be most happy (and happiness, as has been already said, cannot exist without virtue),….leisure is necessary both for the development of virtue and the performance of political duties.”
I have been pondering this idea for a while. I have more leisure in my life than most of the people who have lived in the world. I am not well off financially, but I do have many things that make my life much easier than other generations. I have running water, electricity and many machines that make my life very comfortable. I have appreciated this for many years. I am SO BLESSED. I am not well off financially compared to many, but I have not wondered about my next meal, or how to stay warm. I have so much more leisure in my life than many others. So, what have I done with that leisure?
When I was a young adult my focus was on getting a career. I have worked since I was 14 years old to earn the money I wanted to live my way. I was driven to work and go to school. I burned both ends of the candle trying to get where I thought I would be successful. During the process of this, I changed my mind about what was most important after having my first child. I stopped focusing on how to get ahead in the world and focused on who to help my children get all that was good. This next journey focusing on what was best for my children brought me to homeschooling. During this process, I was introduced to the ideas of TJEd and Leadership Education. My conversion was slow, but I shifted again toward the Leadership Education Model. I started educating myself. It has been wonderful. I can say that since that for the most part I have been using my leisure time much better. I look back and see how much I learned and am learning, and it has been a wonderful journey. I still have many things still to do but I have enjoyed the journey. There are times I have been discouraged and time wasting of course but overall, I still feel that I have done well with my leisure time.
The part I keep tossing around in my head right now is the last part of the quote: “and the performance of political duties.” What will I choose to do? I agree with many parts of Politics. Which leads me toward my next question: What are my political duties? Why?
I tried to ignore this but then I read in Chapter 15: “and those who cannot face danger like men are slaves to any invader.” I don’t want to be a slave to any invader therefore I must make some decisions on how to act upon the knowledge I have.
I have been pondering this idea for a while. I have more leisure in my life than most of the people who have lived in the world. I am not well off financially, but I do have many things that make my life much easier than other generations. I have running water, electricity and many machines that make my life very comfortable. I have appreciated this for many years. I am SO BLESSED. I am not well off financially compared to many, but I have not wondered about my next meal, or how to stay warm. I have so much more leisure in my life than many others. So, what have I done with that leisure?
When I was a young adult my focus was on getting a career. I have worked since I was 14 years old to earn the money I wanted to live my way. I was driven to work and go to school. I burned both ends of the candle trying to get where I thought I would be successful. During the process of this, I changed my mind about what was most important after having my first child. I stopped focusing on how to get ahead in the world and focused on who to help my children get all that was good. This next journey focusing on what was best for my children brought me to homeschooling. During this process, I was introduced to the ideas of TJEd and Leadership Education. My conversion was slow, but I shifted again toward the Leadership Education Model. I started educating myself. It has been wonderful. I can say that since that for the most part I have been using my leisure time much better. I look back and see how much I learned and am learning, and it has been a wonderful journey. I still have many things still to do but I have enjoyed the journey. There are times I have been discouraged and time wasting of course but overall, I still feel that I have done well with my leisure time.
The part I keep tossing around in my head right now is the last part of the quote: “and the performance of political duties.” What will I choose to do? I agree with many parts of Politics. Which leads me toward my next question: What are my political duties? Why?
I tried to ignore this but then I read in Chapter 15: “and those who cannot face danger like men are slaves to any invader.” I don’t want to be a slave to any invader therefore I must make some decisions on how to act upon the knowledge I have.
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