Unlike organized sports, what is generally called recreation in the United States is not expected to encourage competition. For this reason, it is more spontaneous and serves the individual’s needs beyond the competitive world of work. Nevertheless, much can be learned about the values of Americans from an examination of kinds of recreation in which they engage. Many Americans prefer recreation that requires a high level of physical activity. This is true of the three fastest growing adult recreational sports: jogging or running, tennis, and snow skiing. It would seem that Americans carry over their belief in hard work into their world of play and recreation. The well-known expression “we like to work hard and play hard” is an example of this philosophy. What began in the 1970s as the “physical fitness craze” has become a way of life for many. A number of people regularly work out at sports clubs – lifting weight, swimming, playing squash or racquetball, participating in aerobic exercise classes, or using bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, or stair-steppers. Long distance marathon races are so popular that the organizers often have to limit the number of people who can participate. In addition to the famous Boston and New York marathons, there are races in many other cities and even in small towns, drawing from several hundred to as many as 80,000 participants. Few of the people expect to win – most just want to finish the race. The races are usually open to all, young and old alike, even those in wheelchairs. The high level of physical activity enjoyed by many Americans at play has led to the observation that Americans have difficulty relaxing, even in their leisure time. Yet the people who enjoy these physical activities often say that they find them very relaxing mentally because the activity is so different from the kind of activity they must do in the world of work, often indoor office work involving mind rather than body. Why does the writer say that Americans never seem to relax?

Question

Unlike organized sports, what is generally called recreation in the United States is not expected to encourage competition. For this reason, it is more spontaneous and serves the individual’s needs beyond the competitive world of work. Nevertheless, much can be learned about the values of Americans from an examination of kinds of recreation in which they engage.

Many Americans prefer recreation that requires a high level of physical activity. This is true of the three fastest growing adult recreational sports: jogging or running, tennis, and snow skiing. It would seem that Americans carry over their belief in hard work into their world of play and recreation. The well-known expression “we like to work hard and play hard” is an example of this philosophy. What began in the 1970s as the “physical fitness craze” has become a way of life for many. A number of people regularly work out at sports clubs – lifting weight, swimming, playing squash or racquetball, participating in aerobic exercise classes, or using bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, or stair-steppers. Long distance marathon races are so popular that the organizers often have to limit the number of people who can participate. In addition to the famous Boston and New York marathons, there are races in many other cities and even in small towns, drawing from several hundred to as many as 80,000 participants. Few of the people expect to win – most just want to finish the race. The races are usually open to all, young and old alike, even those in wheelchairs.

The high level of physical activity enjoyed by many Americans at play has led to the observation that Americans have difficulty relaxing, even in their leisure time. Yet the people who enjoy these physical activities often say that they find them very relaxing mentally because the activity is so different from the kind of activity they must do in the world of work, often indoor office work involving mind rather than body.

Why does the writer say that Americans never seem to relax?

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