Flow? A side note to induced exercise.

This is just a short note from the road, to be filled in later.

Mark was skeptical about my definition of an athlete, pointing out that high school athletes (he's been one, I haven't) aren't exactly characterized as long term thinkers, and also that many athletes are willing to risk permanent injury to make the big play (not exactly health conscious.)  He said, "I think what you want is to tell your readers that they deserve to experience flow, and that this will help them be motivated to keep up their physical fitness.  And you're trying to use the concept of being an athlete as a proxy for experiencing flow through fitness activities."

What's "flow?"  I know what he means, because we've both read the same book. "Flow" is a psychological concept described by Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi in a book by the same name.   There's a wikipedia article on flow here.

I think Mark is right on, and I'll write more about flow later when I've had a chance to review Czikszentmihalyi's book, which I own but don't have with me.  IIRC there's a chapter on athleticism and flow.  In the meantime, see the wiki article and see if you don't see what he means.  Gotta go.

I'll follow up on this, though I still have to cover the remaining parts of TARP: choosing a route or location, and making sure your people are taken care of.

Comments

[Barbara C.]

I LOVE "flow" theory. I was first introduced to it in one of David H. Albert's homeschooling books. I just wish I was better at cultivating "flow" in my children. I can't wait to hear more of your thoughts on it.