[originaltext] In America, self-improvement is a national pastime. Every yea

In America, self-improvement is a national pastime. Every year, more and more Americans spend their leisure time trying to improve themselves one way or another.
    One popular form of self-improvement is the search for physical fitness. Thousands of Americans who never exercised are now out on the streets jogging in fashionable running suits and expensive gym shoes. They boast of how many miles they nm each day and of how many pounds they lose each week. Others are turning to swimming, tennis, dance and the martial arts to improve their physical fitness.
    Instead of running around the park in the morning or evening, other Americans are studying yoga or meditating quietly in their homes. They are seeking to improve themselves by finding peace and quiet.
    Adult education is another form of self-improvement. After a hard day’s work, many Americans take evening courses at a kraal high school or a community college. There they can study a variety of subjects. Often these people am preparing to return to the job market or trying to qualify themselves for better jobs. For example, a mother busy raising her children might attend a night school to learn secretarial skills. A secretary might return to study accounting. Some retired people may go back for the education they missed at an earlier age.