The Art of Not Doing
Thursday, March 27th, 2008It’s true what they say: If you want something done, ask a busy person. Two years ago I was that busy person, and I got so much done. Now I’m working part-time, and I can barely get out of the bed these days.
Time, like money, is a luxury, and like money it can be squandered unwisely. I’ve haven’t been to work for the past nine days, and my only real achievements during that time are watching Heroes Season 2 and a few eps of Weeds Season 2. I can’t be totally surprised as I didn’t have a plan. Without a plan it’s easy to succumb to the temptation of daytime television, random websites and calls from sailors instead of concentrating on moving forward with my life.
My birthday has become a time when I think about my life direction. Since my 25th birthday I’ve been stressing about my 30th. There’s still a part of me that feels that my life should be sorted by then, that I should have a flat and a creative career, regular holidays abroad and perhaps Daniel Craig as my naked butler. Is that too much to ask for?
My mother cruelly keeps on reminding me that I’m returning to work tomorrow. It’s going to be hell, but I can look forward to the weekend at least.
If I’d had some money I might have gone to Europe or even Scotland, but my credit card bill is still on my mind.
My mum has also been on holiday for the last two weeks, which has been a factor in my declining level of sanity.
Vid: We Gotta Get Out Of This Place by The Animals
8:27 am on 28-Mar-08
Hi PJ - I think as humans we are inherently restless and we are not well suited to having too much idle time, so I think in this broad context your condition makes sense. Hang in there, life has these ebbs and flows, and I fluctuate wildly myself between being too busy to think and being bored to tears with the more mundane aspects of life. Learning to simply be in the moment is hard work, and I think that living in an accelerated cultural milieu contributes to this as well.
I don’t think many people actually “arrive” and get it all sorted out, and most of those who claim to are likely trying to sell you something. I would recommend reading Voltaire’s “Candide”, you’ll find lots of educated philosophical types having a miserable time of it, and the happiest bloke being the farmer who wakes up everyday to work his field in order to be “free of three great evils: boredom, vice and poverty”. As the character Candide would conclude, “we must cultivate our garden.”
BTW, the honesty and vulnerability in your posting is admirable. You still remain my favourite reclusive urbanite (and no, not the only one I know either)
7:11 pm on 31-Mar-08
Thanks Matthew, you always know just what to say to cheer me up. My garden definitely needs cultivating.
4:41 pm on 6-Apr-08
“…a factor in my declining level of sanity…”
I know what you mean…