Friday, September 7, 2007

N is for Nothing

Why is doing nothing so difficult? I guess because it's an art form and like any art it takes practice. Doing nothing is not watching TV or listening to music, it's really just doing nothing. Sitting. I would probably say it's even different than meditating since meditating means not thinking or trying not to think. There used to be a popular poster in teacher's lounges -- "Sometimes I sits and thinks. Sometimes I just sits." That is doing nothing.

I've been busy my entire life but never thought of myself as a workaholic. I wasn't "working," I was just doing. However, as I read the meditations from Women Who Do Too Much, some of it really hits home. Sometimes I blame it on my mother, who would holler at me when I was a teenager sunbathing --"Don't you have anything to do?" I've grown up to love multi-tasking and find myself getting better (or worse) at it the older I get. It just seems so efficient.

But there comes a time when I long to do nothing. I have a hard time giving myself permission for that. Doing nothing is difficult enough; doing nothing without feeling guilty is even harder.

4 comments:

Sarah in Disturbia said...

so, what are you doing tomorrow?

Connie Dooley said...

I started out running (dodging the rain), going for a latte, taking a nap, looking at a commercial real estate property for sale with my seester, and working at the Renaissance Faire writing names on pirate certificates. And the day's only 3/4 of the way over. I think this evening I'll do nothing. Thank you for asking.

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean, doing nothing without feeling guilty. but from what I read in your comment, looks like you're doing a lot!

Juleah said...

I don't know if I have ever done nothing.