Kyle Ornelas, California State University, Fullerton
Physical activity comes in different forms. According to World Health Organization, physical activity is bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Depending on the type of person one may be, physical activity can be safe and simple or extremely dangerous and difficult. One factor these two types of activities have in common is the accomplishment and enjoyment an individual may experience when performing and completing the activity. Not everyone will risk their lives to perform an activity because they are not comfortable with the thrill or possible outcomes it may bring. People may argue that an activity may be too dangerous since the risks outweigh the safety aspect of activity. If the enjoyment is able to outweigh the risks involved, then risks will not matter too much for the person because they have found their state of happiness. In all, it comes down to how one may perform an activity while living the life they prefer in a safe and healthy way.
Risks may be one factor many people find terrifying whenever they are asked to perform an activity they have never accomplished in their lives. People tend to think about the possible outcomes when it comes to doing something new. Most of the outcomes will be negative because they have never experienced anything like it. Once they accomplish the activity, they will have a different perspective of the activity and might have positive outcomes which outweigh the negatives. Knowing limits will help in balancing the risks one may be willing to achieve in an activity.
People do not like to come out of their comfort zones because they do not know what is going to happen to them when they get out of it. They are accustomed to what they know and do not like change. When well-being meets physical activity, the activity performed will be thought out. This is because people know what to expect and how to deal with any awry situations which may occur. Knowing how to balance well-being and physical activity will lead to living the life one may consider enjoyable.
Living the good life differs with each person. One may be considered insane if they enjoy swimming with sharks, but in reality, it is not. For them, it is considered living the “good life” even if it’s a bit extreme. Any activity which is desired and holds value is considered the good life because it is something that individual enjoys doing. Being able to balance physical activity and good life will help lead to happiness, good self-esteem, and freedom. Performing an activity which holds a meaning is vital to living a desirable life.
There is a limit when it comes to risks in an activity. In some scenarios, the risks do outweigh any possible outcomes. In these cases, safety is an issue which is not taken care of. Severe injury and death are involved, but not taken seriously or into much consideration. Many people who perform activities have diseases which lead to death. In the article “Sudden Death and Exercise” by Timothy Noakes, he states that a large number of studies of death which occur during exercise has shown that people who die suddenly during exercise have a serious disease. These diseases are usually related to the heart. Knowing health conditions one may have is beneficial when it comes to performing an activity because it helps determine limits and which activities an individual may perform with ease. Risks are involved in every activity, but some may not be too noticeable. Knowing when one is in danger while performing an activity should be a sign of severe risks. These risks can be outweighed by the enjoyment the activity provides.
Many may say that an activity which has too many risks that lead to danger are not enjoyable in any way. This may be true to some people, but it is not true for the thrill seekers in the world. These thrill seekers do not allow the risks interfere with the activity because it will not be as enjoyable if they keep thinking about the negative factors which are present. (cite) In the article “Enjoyment: A Link to Physical Activity, Leisure, and Health” by Karia Henderson and Barbara Ainsworth, they state that aspects of enjoyment provide harmony and balance that reinforced a higher quality of family and community life. Activities which are enjoyable lead to a better life. The risks involved are outweighed by the enjoyment aspect because there is a greater outcome by performing the activity than not doing it due to the risks. People who are capable of escaping their comfort zone will be able to experience the thrills, rewards and enjoyment of performing an activity which may be considered dangerous.
To conclude, physical activity has its risks, but those risks are what make the activity enjoyable for most people. The level of enjoyment varies between people and so does the level of danger. Risks will always be present. Some might not be as noticeable as others, but they still play a role in every activity. Once the risks are analyzed, the enjoyment of the activity will be present. Activities help lead to the well-being of an individual which then helps with living a good life. It is also good for the health of a person, but can lead to severe injuries or tragedies if they are not cautious of any possible situations.
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