I have nothing to do today.
I have nothing to do everyday.
This is true for all human beings.
I have nothing to do today even when thought says otherwise, even when thought says I have a million things to do today.
Just because I have nothing to do today doesn't mean that nothing will get done. On the contrary, when I feel deep in my bones that I have nothing to do today, nothing to worry about, I tend to have a much more productive day. Productive both on the inner level of accessing a deep well of peace, and productive on the outer level in terms of accomplishing tasks and having positive interactions with others.
I have nothing to do today! Ahhh - what a relief. And yet nothing will be left undone, as the Tao te Ching says.
Having nothing to do makes me unimportant, and what is more delicious than humility? What is more delicious than disappearing in the breeze?
If I did have a lot to do today I would be very important. What more dreadful burden is there than delusions of self-importance?
I relish the freedom and ease of having nothing to do today. I may work hard at my job, due a ton of errands, care for my kids, exercise at the Y; or I may simply relax with a cup of tea and a book of poetry; either way, I have nothing to do today, and the day will, without doubt, get done. So there is nothing to worry about.
A Window is Where the Wall is Absent
The life impulse to express and to connect arises in me and in all of us. This blog is a celebration of these life impulses. Please feel free to join in the conversation or to just visit. There is a Family Photo Album beneath the posts so you can "meet" my family and I. Welcome!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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5 comments:
I torture myself with expectations of stuff to do each day. And working part time some how makes it even more stressful! The internet is all-consuming and time-consuming (especially since we get ours via satellite which has somewhat slow download times). Recently I've been taking the time to look out my window more since I realized I often let the whole day pass by without really looking out even though I am surrounded by exquisite beauty! It sure was nice when I camped here and there were zero distractions. I'd still feel guilty but I'd still spend more time breathing in nature than I have done in my life before. Anyway!!
PS, I just read your analogy of the internet to the mind in your journal as I type! That is so interesting.
Self-torture is an intriguing and apparently universal activity- I have certainly spent thousands of hours in mental self-torture through guilt, worry, regret, dread, etc. And I continue to spend plenty of time in self-torture every day- these mental habits have a lot of momentum and seem unstoppable. The more I observe all this self-torture without judging it or trying to get rid of it, the less it seems to have a hold on me. Thanks for your comments Cindy! We are all in the same boat, and I enjoy pondering these things together.
I also wanted to thank Todd for posting a link to this post on his blog. Check out Todd's blog at this link:
http://toddwrightnow.blogspot.com/
Thanks Colleen, I just read an interesting posting by him about spiritual teachers and ACIM.
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