A friend once asked me what made my heart sing when I woke up in the morning, and I immediately answered “huge chunks of unscheduled time.” Even when the scheduled activities are pleasurable—dinner with friends, an afternoon outing—there is nothing like the peace and joy of knowing I can simply follow the rhythm of my own desire. I try to give myself one unscheduled weekend day a week, although I’m not always successful. Your reflections here are fresh encouragement toward claiming this rest for myself. (Your writing is so lovely. I’m delighted to have your voice in my days.)
i recently experienced something similar. first, being alone felt so overwhelming that i ran in circles to calm my mind. eventually, i allowed the nothingness to take over me, and i started to embrace the little things. but most importantly, i learned to slow down and cherish every moment.
“boredom isn’t a lack of stimulation; it’s the space that allows memory and imagination to meet. it’s where inspiration actually lives — under the piles of noise we call productivity.”
Weekends can be so weird, in between doing 'fun stuff', that you don't get to do during the work week, to the endless admin needed to prepare for the new week. The idea of just doing nothing comes of as strange. But, that is it's whole essence a time for rest and revitalization that we have somehow made something else entirely. Today is Friday and for the first time in a while, I am dreading the weekend because of my mounting to-do list. I am grateful for this reminder that I am allowed to exist even in boredom.
“rest isn’t a debt you owe productivity; it’s a right you reclaim from it” Gosh this rips at my very core. We’re so busy trying to get that right balance that we get complete tunnel vision and lose sight of the whole picture. Thank you for this.
This was really such a wonderful read! You have a way with words that is so descriptive. This piece was a wonderful insight, and especially as I start my long weekend :)
This is so timely! I've been getting this same message from several places in the past few days. In fact, this morning I read this quote "Slow down and enjoy life. It's not the scenery you miss by going too fast--you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."--Eddie Cantor
After I read it, I journaled about wanting to take a break from the doing, doing, doing and that I was going to set a time to get to a quiet space, preferably nature, to just savor the peace and solitude and let my mind wander and to just be.
A friend once asked me what made my heart sing when I woke up in the morning, and I immediately answered “huge chunks of unscheduled time.” Even when the scheduled activities are pleasurable—dinner with friends, an afternoon outing—there is nothing like the peace and joy of knowing I can simply follow the rhythm of my own desire. I try to give myself one unscheduled weekend day a week, although I’m not always successful. Your reflections here are fresh encouragement toward claiming this rest for myself. (Your writing is so lovely. I’m delighted to have your voice in my days.)
i recently experienced something similar. first, being alone felt so overwhelming that i ran in circles to calm my mind. eventually, i allowed the nothingness to take over me, and i started to embrace the little things. but most importantly, i learned to slow down and cherish every moment.
This is so beautiful and wise.
“boredom isn’t a lack of stimulation; it’s the space that allows memory and imagination to meet. it’s where inspiration actually lives — under the piles of noise we call productivity.”
Thanks for writing and sharing.
Weekends can be so weird, in between doing 'fun stuff', that you don't get to do during the work week, to the endless admin needed to prepare for the new week. The idea of just doing nothing comes of as strange. But, that is it's whole essence a time for rest and revitalization that we have somehow made something else entirely. Today is Friday and for the first time in a while, I am dreading the weekend because of my mounting to-do list. I am grateful for this reminder that I am allowed to exist even in boredom.
“rest isn’t a debt you owe productivity; it’s a right you reclaim from it” Gosh this rips at my very core. We’re so busy trying to get that right balance that we get complete tunnel vision and lose sight of the whole picture. Thank you for this.
Thank you for the reminder...
This was really such a wonderful read! You have a way with words that is so descriptive. This piece was a wonderful insight, and especially as I start my long weekend :)
Gorgeous articulation. Thank you.
This is so timely! I've been getting this same message from several places in the past few days. In fact, this morning I read this quote "Slow down and enjoy life. It's not the scenery you miss by going too fast--you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."--Eddie Cantor
After I read it, I journaled about wanting to take a break from the doing, doing, doing and that I was going to set a time to get to a quiet space, preferably nature, to just savor the peace and solitude and let my mind wander and to just be.
This is so wholesome. It's the way you notice these things and put words to best capture them.
love love this piece! felt the urge to restack every line as a reminder to myself
We have been so conditioned that even rest have to be optimised. Your article is a breath of fresh air.
It’s so hard to do nothing at home because I spend the whole time thinking of the productive things I “should” be doing. We’re working on it😂
You are such a gifted thinker and writer. Thank you.
I just adore the way you write. It flows gracefully into my eyes and mind. Imparting a message that syncs with my heart.
I found out very late in life i had ADHD.
So this constant need for direction of a to do list gives me an instant memory prompt but can also be a drain.
This insight of over processing not doing anything is so real.
Thank you for allowing access to your insightful thoughts for free for those who can’t afford it otherwise.
I for one am grateful 🙏
This was it 👏👏“rest isn’t a debt you owe productivity; it’s a right you reclaim from it.”