Sunday, November 20, 2011

These People

I have a snippet of poetry that hangs on my fridge. It's near a picture of Chicken (the cat) while he was in his Marlon Brando phase, lounging about in my mom's bathroom sink. I leave it there to remind me of the pleasure of indolence, the necessity for it.
Chicken in Marlon Brando phase

I meant to do my work today, but a brown bird sang in
the apple tree, and a butterfly flitted across the field, and
all the leaves were calling.
-Richard La Gallienn

These people
I was raised with a strong work ethic and I find it very hard to just do "nothing". I'm not a competitive person, but I am constantly setting goals for myself and then won't let them out of my teeth. It has only been in my mid-thirties that I'm learning to take "time off" and appreciate the value of indolence, of accomplishing nothing. And to do it without feeling guilty or like I have to make excuses for it.

It's all thanks to these people. These people that I love to distraction. These people who need so much from me, but what they need most is a mama who is rested and in her right mind. Thankful to these people today while I do a whole lot of nothing today and accomplish some of the most important things in life.


4 comments:

  1. Nothing to us means so much more to them!

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  2. My kids are the happiest when I am doing nothing but paying attention to them!

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  3. There is a certain art to doing "nothing" and no one can teach us that better than young children. I miss the doing nothing together days--mine are all grown(ish) and engaged in their own pursuits so much of the time.

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  4. You've won an award! No really! Really... http://womaninawheelbarrow.blogspot.com/2011/11/liebster-award.html Okay, well, it's just from me... and there's no money or trophy or free cookies, but at least you know I think you are great. If the link doesn't work, just go check out my blog.

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