This week I went bowling with three other friends. This was a lot of fun. We played two games. The first game started off really well for all of us, but the second game wasn't as good. It was nice to have other people around to talk to in between throws and made bowling two games feel less exhausting with the breaks in between. I finally was able to hit two strikes in a row. I learned from a friend that this is called a double. I almost had three but ended up with a spare instead. The more I continue to bowl the more it begins to feel like a natural motion for me. I no longer have to constantly think about the positioning of my body and arm when I throw because it just comes naturally. I have found that there is a general response when I tell people I go bowling every week and it is usually something like... "I love to bowl, but I am not very good at it."
With this being the common response I think it is easy to say that bowling is a co-occupation. People usually go bowling for the physical, emotional, and intentional aspects. Bowling brings people together physically to share the experience of a common occupation. The emotional aspect comes from the enjoyment of being there with the people they enjoy being around plus playing the game. I think the shared intentional aspect is naturally there as well because everyone is there with the same common goal. These three aspects are typically what the bowling atmosphere looks like for most people.
With that being said, I think bowling has had its challenges for me because I tend to go alone and disrupt the co-occupation of it. Depending on other people, working with others' schedules, and outreach were all barriers that seemed to disrupt the co-occupation in bowling. I think this is important to note because while I was able to take something that is normally seen as a co-occupation and switch it to a solo occupation there are many people in the world who do not have the opportunity to simply not have co-occupations. Co-occupations are important for those who rely on others because without them their occupational well-being is truly at risk. Overall, I think bowling is a sport that people play with the intent of it being a co-occupation. I do not believe that most people simply go bowling because they are stellar bowlers.
Sami, I enjoyed how you talked about bowling typically being known as a co-occupations but how you view the occupation for yourself as more individualized. I think that there are multiple occupations than can be either or and to get to enjoy it which ever way you find the best for yourself is an amazing thing. Also great job on your scores!! Would you prefer to bowl as a co-occupation than solo if there were less barriers in the way of this happening?
ReplyDeleteHey Jordan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I think I definitely prefer to engage in bowling as a co-occupation. While I do think that without the barriers I would choose to do it with other people. The more I am beginning to go alone the more I almost find peace in bowling solo.