As often as we hear and read about how detrimental being sedentary and engaging in extensive screen time is for our health, relationships, and connections to nature, our communities, and society, we rarely learn about alternative options to screens that improve those aspects of our lives. Thankfully, alternatives abound in and around our community.
Becoming more physically active proves simple with numerous local indoor and outdoor options for physical movement. Bristow is home to a few gyms and fitness classes, offering individuals options for indoor physical activity. If privacy is more your style, try beginning with yoga, tai chi, or other dance and exercise programs at home or in small groups.
For outdoor activities, take a walk, run, bicycle, skate, or hike around local parks, Lake Massena, or Bristow’s own nature trails. The community also boasts plenty of public space for jumping rope, playing soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, pickleball, dodgeball, kickball, football, horseshoes, croquet, kayaking, paddleboarding, cornhole, yard Yahtzee, ring toss, and offers separate courses for games of frisbee/disc and traditional golf. Additionally, the pool will open soon for swimming and fun. Facilities for archery, hunting, camping, paintball, and horseback riding exist in other areas within the county. Children may join in most activities with adults.
While offering lower levels of physical activity, several local options allow for connectivity to nature, self, God, and the community with a more relaxed pace or social service aspect. Those options include taking nature walks, picking up litter around the community and in nature and wildlife spaces, engaging in nature photography, going on nature and wildlife scavenger hunts, cloud watching, birdwatching, fishing, outdoor meditation or prayer, flying a kite, creating art with friends and family outside, gardening and landscaping, walking pets, reading a book lakeside or beneath a tree, assisting a neighbor with yard care, hosting a neighborhood picnic with games, and delivering meals to the elderly and disabled.
Regarding social service, volunteers are needed and cherished by many local entities and organizations. Some of those groups include Bristow Area Social Services, local churches, the senior nutrition program—operating out of Woodland Village at 131 East 9th Avenue, sorting recyclables at the collection site, and Bristow Historical Society. Interested parties may also volunteer with the Creek County Literacy Program to be a reading tutor and with Creek County CASA, serving as a court appointed special advocate. Adults, typically family members, are also needed and utilized by local children’s scouting organizations.
Several local clubs and organizations also rely on members to volunteer. Members enjoy club benefits, socialization, and volunteer opportunities to serve their organization and community. A few of those organizations include the Chamber of Commerce, Bristow Historical Society, Rotary Club of Bristow, VFW, American Legion, VFW Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Bristow Noon Lions, Bristow Friends of the Library Board, and Masonic Lodge.
Even local entertainment options prove plentiful without the need for more screen time. For instance, school students engage in a multitude of activities and sports, offering spectators plenty of options to support the community and be entertained. Students perform on stage as vocalists, actors, musicians, and dancers. Athletes participate in track meets and sport events of all types: basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, and soccer. Academic teams and speech and debate students attend competitions, and
See Bolster, Page Four American Legion Auxiliary, Bristow Noon Lions, Bristow Friends of the Library Board, and Masonic Lodge. Even local entertainment options prove plentiful without the need for more screen time. For instance, school students engage in a multitude of activities and sports, offering spectators plenty of options to support the community and be entertained. Students perform on stage as vocalists, actors, musicians, and dancers. Athletes participate in track meets and sport events of all types: basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, and soccer. Academic teams and speech and debate students attend competitions, and art students exhibit their work in shows. Agriculture students participate in competitions, shows, and some host produce markets.
In addition to student events, the community can attend free concerts and shows held in churches, at the amphitheater, in the town plaza, and at the library. For its part, the Freeland Center for the Performing Arts brings many talented shows and performers to the community with reasonably priced tickets to allow as many locals as possible to attend performances. The Bristow Public Library also hosts many interactive activities for community members of all ages, including its upcoming and highly anticipated Summer Reading Program.
Finally, with so many local options to put down screens and walk away from a sedentary lifestyle, connecting with the living world and improving our health, why would any of us choose to remain planted in front of an inanimate, unfeeling screen?