The joy of idle unproductive spaces.
If you have found a quiet bench in a quiet park and sat down, be sure you had a very profitable day! ~ Mehmet Murat ildan
backstory: We live in a society, where idleness is frowned upon as it cannot be quantified and monetized. As a result, our modern lives are jam-packed with things to do. Constant productivity is celebrated and rewarded. But at what cost!
I could tell you about a million things I have to do or should be doing, but I won’t bore you. All I can say, the joy of finding quiet spaces amidst all the activities (offline and online) and being alone with my thoughts is one of the beauties of saying “Yes” to myself. It’s the discovery of the endangered relic that is idleness.
OK enough about me. I’d love to hear from you, too. What do you have to let go, from time to time, in order to make space to be idle? Please do share! We can all learn from one another. 🙂
Wishing you a restful Sunday!
A restful Sunday to you too Khaya. I make me-time/down time a part of my days. My fav spot is a walk path by the river close to home. The bench in your post begs for someone to stop awhile and take a load off.
Oh my friend Khaya, how quiet time is so important. I used to make daily lists of things to get done, only to have marked off one thing, maybe. 😲 Then you find that you end up exhausting yourself, becoming depressed because you didn’t get those things done, and then procrastinating because your state of mind is depleted. Excellent point my friend. Find your bench. I certainly found mine and then some. Have a FANtabulous day and an awe-inspiring week Khaya. 🥰💖🤗
That bench also has aromatherapy going for it what with all those gorgeous lilacs blooming.
I’m glad you honor the urge to be idle, relax, do nothing. I’m busy all day, Khaya, so idleness happens randomly. In about an hour, I’m going take your advice and spend a bit of idle time soaking up the day outside in the shade. It will be wonderful.
I love sitting quietly . it makes everything brim with life
Here’s to embracing idleness!
Oh, those walks by the river are sublime! I’m so glad to hear idleness (me-time/down time) is part your daily. Kudos to you!
I hear you Kym about the exhausting and depressing to-do lists. Having spaces, physically and mentally, where there is nothing to do is important. Let’s keep finding those quiet spaces and benches to be alone with our thoughts. <3
Aromatherapy indeed, the strong and sweet scent of lilacs that fills the air! As I sat down on the bench, I actually closed my eyes, inhaled deeply and released all that feeling of busyness.
The mind might battle but my body forces me to, and I have learned to listen. I fully understand you being busy all day, especially now with your latest book coming out and which I’m eagerly waiting for. 🙂 But I sincerely hope you create the time and space to be idle, and avoid book promotion fatigue. Best of luck, my friend!
Most beautiful image of everything brimming with life. Thank you Ananda, I shall continue to sit quietly!
Welcome aboard! 🙂
Oh Khaya, I am so there with you girlfriend. I appreciate the reminders! Enjoy the rest of your week! 😎💖😊🌺😍 Cheers! 😘🥂😊
I will try my best. <3 <3
I sometimes let go of thinking I HAVE to do something. I don’t have to do anything, no matter what anyone thinks lol
One of the very few things my chronically ill state has given me is the ability to recognize the power (and necessity) of doing nothing for a while. It was very hard to accomplish at the beginning, and my body suffered because of it. I’ve found a comfortable medium–in my garden, at night, lying on my trampoline, looking at the sky, listening to the city…
I have been working very hard to find stillness, find rest, find recovery. It is averse to my nature. I like to keep my mind busy, lest it fall into its own darkness. Yet I am trying to convince myself it is ok to breathe, that the walls will not close in if I’m not actively pushing against them. Small steps. Working less. Taking rest days. Sleeping.
I agree, it’s hard in the beginning to embrace idleness yet the body suffers, if we keep on pushing and pushing. I’m happy to hear you’ve found a comfortable medium and enjoying some quiet time. And yes, I too like listening to the city and its sounds. It beats the droning sound or background noise from TV, when I’m not actually watching it. 🙂
Idleness rocks. It is when creativity has a chance to form.
I couldn’t agree more! Thank you, Cindy. I appreciate your visit.