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Mini Article: The Importance Of Idleness

Author: Sean D'Souza

Mini Article: The Importance Of Idleness

So you're going/have gone on a vacation, aren't you? Well, the weekend will come up, and you'll have some sort of break–your to-do list non-withstanding.

But you won't take a break. No you won't. You'll do something silly. Like filling it up with stuff.

How about filling it with idleness instead?

Yeah, idleness. As in doing nothing. Yes, we know you've got a million things to do. But idleness can't wait.

The western world in particular have forgotten what it means to be idle. To just sit under a tree and do nothing. Not read. Not scold your kids. Certainly not pick up the phone. Just sit and watch the world go by.

Idleness isn't as crazy a concept as you think. You DO NOT have to fill your day with stuff. You don't have to visit every monument on your vacation. It's more beneficial to do nothing. As in N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

Can you do nothing?

Can you? Can you? Can you do nothing for even a day this weekend? How about for an hour then?

Try it. Just be lazy. Just watch butterflies. Or watch the mould growing. But be idle.

Because as an ancient Chinese saying goes: Man who sits by river all day, and doesn't think it's a waste of time, is a wise man.


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Filed Under: Human Nature Tagged With: Human Nature, learning

Comments

  1. C. A. Kobu says

    January 12, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    Great post! Thank you.
    There’s this famous joke. Socrates said, “To do is to be.” Sartre said, “To be is to do.” Frank Sinatra said, “Do-be-do-be-do!”

    I’ll take the Sinatra version. Sometimes we have to empty our minds, get rid of our to-do lists and just celebrate the healing power of being without doing. It has magical powers. Afterwards, you feel recharged and rejuvenated. It might require some practice though. In the Western world we’re so conditioned to ‘do’ and to ‘be productive’ all the time that we have lost the connection with our inner silence and serenity. Being without doing and doing without doing are also possible.

    Reply
  2. Evan says

    January 12, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    Manfred Max-Neef list idleness as one of the human needs. I quite agree.

    Reply
  3. Rae says

    January 12, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Did you HAVE to mention watching the mould growing?!

    I’ve been idly watching the brie as it morphs and, with one little hint, whoosh goes my idleness…

    No worries. Given the weather, I’d be better off practising by watching the weeds going feral.

    Reply
  4. Richard Michie says

    January 12, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    I was going to write a long comment but

    Reply
  5. Christian Russell says

    January 12, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    Being still is one of the things we all struggle with. So many don’t even see the point. It is of huge importance.

    Reply
  6. Jae Smith says

    January 13, 2010 at 2:42 am

    Hi Sean:

    I am a Westerner and trust me, learning the importance of idleness is a foreign concept to most Americans. I tried it for an hour and I was amazed at how doing so recreated a new reservoir of creative energy. I had more ideas for writing than I could “shake a stick at” so to speak. This is a much needed exercise. Ooops! Forgive me, “exercise” is a verb. You get the picture. :þ

    Yours,

    Jae

    Reply
  7. allan g. lie says

    January 12, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    A good concept that’s been around for a long time… even printed in a very old book. 😉

    “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)”

    Reply
  8. Jae Smith says

    January 13, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Hmmmm…watching clouds…what a sublime place in which to dwell…thank you for teaching one of life’s important lessons, although philosophical.

    Yours,

    Jae

    Reply
  9. Sean D'Souza says

    January 13, 2010 at 4:28 am

    We usually take a huge chunk of time off. Just to do nothing. I’ve gotten awfully good at watching clouds.

    Reply
  10. Chris Owen says

    February 1, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    A very salutory reminder thanks Sean!

    Reply
  11. Anthony Pfeiffer says

    February 1, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    For everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

    This morning I am writing a report about time management for 1st time moms and dads. I can hear their arguments in my head. As I do my best to take another deep breath and hang out as I write…

    Reply

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