I’ve been wracking my brains for some time what would make a good entry. I suppose I could write one of those ‘what I did on my vacation’ entries. Today is Father’s Day, so I could drag him on stage and write about him. 16 June is Bloomsday which gives me the opportunity to write about James Joyce. Alas none of these sound too interesting. I suspect I have done these before anyway.
It’s rainy and rawther cold here this morning in Milwaukee WI. Brother #2 is asleep in the deep. He’s come off of a ten day night shift and valiantly trying to stay awake and entertain me but it’s no such luck. Until he wakes today about noon I am on my own.
Being alone in an apartment with nothing do on a rainy day first sounds dull and confining, but when was the last time you had nothing to do? I have books to read and as much cheese curds as I please. My flight isn’t until 5PM. I could spend the entire day here reading. I could even sleep the afternoon away.
I’ve come to the conclusion being busy is a merit badge no longer worth pursuing as a sign of Eagle scout status. Somewhere is the past fifty years relaxation and indolence got dirty reputations. Nowadays if you are not continually running amok then there is something wrong with you. You must be a loser, a bum, or someone without inspiration. Last Friday at work I had several no-shows just timed I had nothing to do for two hours. At first I felt bad I was just sitting there with nothing to do; something must be wrong. Word’s out I’m a quack or something. What will me boss say? I used the opportunity to try some meditation and sitting still. It wasn’t too difficult and it was quite pleasant. Yesterday Brother #2 and I had no agenda but made it up as we went along. At one point he asked me what I wanted next to do and my answer was to go home and take a nap before dinner, which we did.
“How are you?” is often responded to with a ‘Oh, I’ve been busy”. Rather than admire this, I am now shaking my head as if they has just announced their car has died and replying “Gee that’s too bad”. Being busy strikes me as mere existing, an attempt to stay afloat rather than drowning. I will let thems obsessed with being busy run by. Now that I’ve had a taste of quiet stillness I will have another scoop soon and often.
13 comments
June 16, 2019 at 9:25 AM
anne marie in philly
enjoy the quiet time. RTG and I are eating take-out from chipotle currently, laundry is in the washer/dryer, it’s a cloudy day. there will be naps later and knitting.
June 16, 2019 at 1:12 PM
glen
Sounds like a wonderful day to relax. You are a wonderful brother to visit and just spend time together. Everyone should be so lucky to have such a great sibling.
June 16, 2019 at 3:06 PM
David Godfrey
I hope you enjoyed the day, shift into neutral and relax. I have been unusually busy, missing my free days on the weekends.
June 16, 2019 at 6:23 PM
Old Lurker
When in doubt, get horizontal.
But I do not understand how you are not swamped with work during no-shows. Don’t you have to spend hours every evening dictating charts?
June 17, 2019 at 6:53 AM
Urspo
The time needed for dictating charts in the evening is correlated to the number of new patients AKA ‘the evals”. If they all show (but med-checks do not) I will have 1-2 hours per night to dictate the charts
June 16, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Debra She Who Seeks
When asked how they are, professionals answer “I’m busy” because “busy” equates with “successful.” And of course we internalize that equation as well. It’s all part of the rat race mentality. (I can safely say this now from the haven of retirement).
June 17, 2019 at 3:34 AM
Autolycus
Busy-ness doesn’t always mean business. (And I speak as someone whose entire career – don’t throw things – was in administration). Tell yourself that if you’re not busy, it’s because you’ve got everything organised and running smoothly. Or at least, everything that’s important
If anyone asked me if I was busy at work, I would say “Well, it keeps me off the streets”. But even in retirement, I get those moments of feeling that, whatever I’m doing, there’s something else I ought to be doing that I’ve completely forgotten to do, even if I can’t think what it might be.
June 17, 2019 at 3:47 AM
Moving with Mitchell
I often measure the quality of my day based on the number one f things I Accomplished. It’s a habit that’s tough to break. So I now try to accomplish things like walking on the beach, petting the cats, and having a quiet cup of coffee.
June 17, 2019 at 6:06 AM
Sam
The next time someone asks me how I am, or what I have been up to, I am going to fight with all my being not to say, “I’ve been really busy.” I hope to say, I’ve just read this great book. Or perhaps, I spent each morning having a cup of coffee, reading blog posts with my dog. I’m sure some would cringe, but inside, I think they would admire this more than, I’ve been so busy.
June 17, 2019 at 6:54 AM
Urspo
That is splendid; good for you !
June 18, 2019 at 8:32 AM
retirementconfidential
I also am not pursuing a merit badge for being busy. It feels wonderful. Kind of reminds me of the Edna Ferber quote, “Being an old maid is like death by drowning, a really delightful sensation after you cease to struggle.”
June 18, 2019 at 8:42 AM
Ron
Many of us were raised with the Puritan work ethic of idleness is sinful. Thats the way I was brought up. My father couldn’t stand it if I was lying about reading comic books which I often did when I was a teenager during the hot muggy summer days of my foolish youth. How many times I heard him say to me “Don’t you have anything to do? You can weed some corn or help your Mother clean the house.” He just couldn’t abide me doing nothing. I have to say it took me quite a while not to feel guilty when I go to my bedroom in the middle of the day and pick up a book I’ve been reading. I have expect his ghost to come by and say “Don’t you have anything to do?”
June 19, 2019 at 3:25 PM
Steven
Cherish those moments as they don’t come often!