Leisure or Labor: A Tale of Two Faces

Beware the Face of Labor

Observe the business professional crammed in beside you during that Monday morning subway commute into the big city.

Then take in the guy strolling onto the sand in flip flops and Shady Rays, dragging along a cooler full of Corona Lights.

The physical demeanor and facial contortions of each are no doubt galaxies apart.

Why?

Because one is imprisoned in the dreaded ‘work mode’ while the other basks in blissful ‘play mode’.

While the corporate slave sports that classic bitchy resting face, the beachgoer is as carefree as a Biden in an ice cream parlor.

We all have a degree of both types within us – toggling that hard line between that which brings us pleasure and that which breeds discomfort.

Sailing, snorkeling, painting, and gardening are all enjoyable activities that may even bring a sense of purpose into our lives.

House chores, work endeavors, and hospital visits all qualify as the latter – and can trigger a degree of anxiety and stress.

It is important to note that the gambling industry officially falls under the entertainment umbrella. In other words, it’s supposed to be an exercise in pleasure.

There’s a reason why oodles of folks zero in on Las Vegas as a preferred travel destination, and why such vacation outlets as Aruba, the Bahamas, and any commercial cruise line come with an onset of gambling venues.

It’s because gambling, while a highly profitable industry, is ultimately designed to be fun.

Poker, blackjack, and craps are all referred to as table games, not table jobs.

The only folks on the clock are the ones dishing out the cards and paying you out in chip currency.

But it hardly takes a psych major to enter a casino floor and distinguish between the folks of leisure and those of labor.

It’s written on their faces.

The leisurely gambler still savors that symphony of digital bleeps and blips and sucks in the vibrance consuming him like an electric forest.

By night’s end, the hit or take will not have a profound impact on his/her financial status or long-term lifestyle.

It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours on a Friday night, hopefully departing with shirt intact and maybe a few stories to share.

There are also the recreational gamblers, those of the more conservative mindset, employing various strategies and intel while keeping the bankroll at a manageable level.

The recreational gambler regards these excursions as a hobby, not unlike gourmet cooking, piano playing, or vintage car collecting.

But sometimes, when the frequency of these trips accelerates from a monthly to a weekly or even daily basis, your gambling interests slowly morph into something entirely different.

When the joy has evaporated, it means the fever has sucked you into its dark vortex.

Suddenly, the one-relaxed demeanor has been replaced by that tense grimace of the guy on the subway, watching the cards, dice, or roulette ball as if his next paycheck depends upon it.

It is here that the scope of his gambling outcomes seeps into a realm of need, not hope.

If that slot bonus does hit or that lucky card doesn’t drop, meals will be skipped, rent won’t be paid, and college funds won’t come to fruition.

That look of leisure in one’s eyes has been replaced by one of hard labor.

It’s important to recognize it in the mirror.

Remember, gambling is a means of enjoyment. High-fiving your fellow chipsters and coloring up your winnings can bring a special kind of satisfaction unlike anything on a gold course or in a bowling alley.

But when it comes to a steady flow of income, depend instead on your 40-hour-a-week work grind.

And regard the casino as a simple pleasure palace.

For help with your gambling addiction, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-MY-RESET.