The Joy of Idleness

As a kid, did you ever just stare at the clouds and say what they looked like? Have you done that recently?

There is so much work in our lives today, it can be hard to pull away to just notice the world around you. Still, you can, and should, spend some time fully disengaged from your to do list.

But how?

The work of idleness

It’s counter intuitive, but doing nothing is hard work. If you’ve tried traditional meditation, you know how difficult it is to just sit in silence. Instead, focus on the world around you.

• What sounds do you hear?
• What scents are around you?
• Is the air warm or cool?

If you are outside, stare at the clouds, notice the nature around you, feel how uneven or level the ground is beneath your feet.

What you are really doing

The noticing is the first step to appreciating the moment, a classic mindfulness exercise. Is there anything you can appreciate? A warm breeze, the arching shape and welcome shade of a nearby tree, these are easy moments to miss when we are replaying last week’s conversations in our head or worrying about a problem that may never occur.

Noticing is your gateway to the present. Embracing the opportunity to do nothing, even for a little while, is your first step through it.

Where you go from here

Noticing is just the beginning. Growing to appreciate the world around you for what it is requires building the muscle of gratitude and admiration. Learning to savor the moments between work, appreciating down time and savoring the feeling of idleness is a challenge, but one I hope you grow to enjoy.