AN EXPERIMENT IN [ALMOST] NOTHING

I am one of those people who can't do "nothing." Nothing to me is "just" reading a magazine, or "just" cleaning the house, or "just" making a list of things to do. You can imagine, then, that sticking to my New Year's Resolution of taking Sundays off gets to be a little challenging.

A friend of mine often advises me of the tradition of Sabbath for which preparations are made the day before so that it is possible to honor the Sabbath and do no work. I try to hold that advice as Sunday approaches, getting "work" things done by Saturday night...but then my brain kicks in.

"A whole day off, you say? What will we do? Laundry! Clean the basement!"

"Nothing," I say.

"Check our email! Surf the internet!"

"Nothing," I repeat.

"Write bills! Organize the kitchen! Clean the house!"

"Nothing," I say again, obviously not getting through.

And so we compromise--separating the want-tos from the have-tos and shoulds.

Despite myself, I am pleased to report that this will be my seventeenth Sunday off since December! Seventeen!

It has not been easy...laugh with me when I say I actually make a list of non-work things to do on my day off! But only those things I am passionately inspired to do. Sometimes cleaning, yes, but more often things I don't find time for otherwise...sleeping late, reading a good book, calling my sister, gardening, a Sunday drive.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this experiment is that I have become quite possessive about my Sundays. Not only do I look forward to the day off, I find it provides a wonderful way to reconnect, to be creative, to slow down, and to "just" enjoy!

- - - - -

"Sometimes it feels like this world
is spinning faster
Than it did in the old days
So naturally, we have more
natural disasters
From the strain of a fast pace
Sunday was a day of rest
Now it's one more day for progress
And we can't slow down 'cause
more is best
It's all an endless process"

Rascal Flats, "Mayberry"

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