Standing and Staring

Idleness is not my strong suit. Retirement is a time for people to kick back and relax. If that is the case, I have failed miserably in retirement. The truth is that I have never been much for slowing down or doing nothing. I get over-scheduled, but I would not want it any other way. Voluntarily slowing down isn’t in my genes.

I recently read an article in The Atlantic by Arthur C. Brooks titled “How to Embrace Doing Nothing.” He described how hard doing nothing is for many people.  I find it hard to sit still unless I am doing something. I grew up a family with a strong work ethic and watched my mom and dad take little time for leisure.

My lack of understanding of my parents’ leisure ethic was what intrigued me to study leisure throughout my academic career. Although “doing nothing” can be leisure, it has never worked well as a definition for me. I like to think of leisure as something that is positive and active. I like days that I have little scheduled with fully the opportunity to do nothing. However, it never really ends up that way as I fill my day with activities I want to do.

For many years I have pondered the quote from the Sound of Music that Captain Von Trapp said to Maria, “Activity suggests a life filled with purpose.” I like to think that my volunteer and outdoor activities during retirement are filled with meaning, and I strive to assure that case.

I am envious of people who relish doing nothing as part of their daily routines. Brooks notes that learning to do nothing is good for people. Letting the mind wander during unstructured tasks can make us better at creative problem-solving. Unconscious thought can produce original ideas.

The key, as is true with all of life, is balance—to know when to do something and when to take some time off. The secret may be to find equilibrium between activity and idleness where neither is neglected. Although I doubt I will ever enjoy white space in my life, my friends on our Cotswold Walk reminded me of the words of William Henry Davies, “A poor life this if…We have no time to stand and stare.”