Thursday, October 15, 2015

How To Be Idle

In a recent post on a blog in my reading list,  "Thoughts From A Bag Lady in Waiting", Linda Myers (the blog's author) refers to a poem by Mary Oliver called "The Summer Day".
The last two lines of the poem were the prompt for a writing group that Linda participated in.

       "Tell me, what is it you plan to do 
       with your one wild and precious life?"

In the poem, Mary Oliver paints a vivid image of a lazy summer day.  As she goes on to describe the day, she completely immerses herself in, not only the whole of the experience but even more so in the minutest of details.

I have little (okay, practically no) experience with poetry.  But, this poem touched me deeply.

I have had significant, heartbreaking losses in the last few years.        

However, for me the question about what I plan to do with my one precious life is not what grabbed me.  Nor was the reminder of how short life is.

"Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?"

Her message that it's okay to take the time to lay in the grass and do nothing but wonder,

         "...how to be idle and blessed"

followed by the question, "Tell me what else should I have done?" is what clutched at my soul.

Let me explain.  I don't know if it is specific to my generation, cultural background, gender or retirement, but I have difficulty doing nothing.   For after all there is always work that has to be done, right?
Something must be accomplished every day, no?
What if unexpected guests showed up at my door?  How embarrassing would it be if the house was not in order?

I have started to keep an online journal.  Or I should say, once again, I am attempting to keep an online journal.  I must point out that the security options on my journal blog are set to private.  There is absolutely no way anyone would be able to read or even find this blog.

But, as I read back through the entries, of my most private journal, I see it is merely a list of what I have done that day.  Funny, I apparently have to prove even to myself that I and my life are still worthwhile.
For after all on Tuesday:

"I started going through my closet and drawers to put away some of my summer clothes and to switch over to winter stuff.
I put together a give-a-way box."

There is no mention of the Blue Jay perched on the very tip top branch of the pine I stopped to watch on my walk, or not a hint of the elephant cloud I spied.

So, today when I am out for my walk, instead of checking my FitBit every few minutes to see if I am anywhere near my 10,000 steps, maybe I will stop and sit on the bench by the pond and wonder.


  "Thursday, October 15, 2015

Today, Jane called.  I invited her over.  And instead of rushing around to make the bed and wash the dishes in the sink before she arrived, I waited for her in the sunroom watching the pine branches sway.







 




16 comments:

  1. Really enjoyed this post. It always feels like an honor when someone refers to a blog post of mine. But then "we're all in this together," so that's a good thing!

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    1. Thank you. As you know I was inspired by your post.

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  2. I, like Linda, am enjoying seeing how other bloggers have responded to the writing prompt from our blogging retreat on Vashon Island. I may have the opposite challenge from you. I'm far more likely to while away the day, enjoying whatever catches my fancy, rather than accomplishing anything. One of these days Il'll find the happy medium. That's the thing about retirement...there's the illusion that there is always tomorrow.

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    1. I know what you mean about the illusionary tomorrow. We are sometimes so rudely reminded of that.

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  3. I have the same problem. Did I get a lot done today? No. Then it was a wasted day. Maybe not.

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    1. I know what you mean. It's this whole notion of thinking of time as some kind of currency, which can either be spent wisely or wasted.

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  4. I think we sll just need to take time to pause and be still and not worry on whar we need to get done.

    Betty

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    1. That's what I have the most difficulty doing. I need to learn how to properly chill!

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  5. I am also very intrigued by the difference in how each of us responds to that Mary Oliver poem. I will always see that grasshopper in her hand, and think of a wonderful wild and precious life that we have each been given. I appreciate your reminder to write about what I feel and see and not what I did today. :-)

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    1. Yes, the imagery in the poem is wonderful. When I am in a particularly emotional state I find it hard not to write about my feelings. But that does take courage. Most times I am not that brave :)

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  6. I've never had a problem with finding ways to be idle, but I often feel guilty about my idleness afterwards. There is certainly times when reflection and just blanking out are a good thing, but sometimes I overindulge in those good things. I have so much to do and sometimes I just sit there wondering where do I start.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Wrote By Rote

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    1. Ahh, there's that phrase, "I feel guilty". That's what I'm talkin' bout. :) You know that stuff you have so much of to do? Guess what? It'll be there later.
      Oh, by the way, I'm sure you've heard of this one, "How do you eat an elephant?" One bite at a time.

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  7. Your post has me pleased as punch to hear you say you've decided to enjoy life without worry of constant accomplishment! I recently wrote poems as a birthday gift to myself. A footnote comment for a poem entitled TO REMAIN STILL is: *Within this context, the madness represents society’s expectation that one must always be actively productive (or could it be your expectation of yourself?)

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    1. I love that you wrote birthday poems for yourself. A lifetime of accomplishment expectations is a hard habit to break. I'm giving it a try though.

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  8. I loved reading your response the Mary Oliver's poem. As a newly retired person, I'm challenged daily with the decision to work or not work or something in between. My daily walks with our dog through the woods to the river where salmon have been spawning for weeks help me remember what's important.

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    1. Thank you!
      Your walks with your dog through the woods to the river sound lovely. I can imagine how such beautiful surroundings can help sort out priorities.

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