You're Too Busy
Find time for 'nothing'
The divine is not found in busyness, it’s found in stillness
“Those who appear inactive are, believe me, engaged in far more important activity; they’re dealing with matters divine and human at the same moment” (Seneca, Letter VIII)
Am I ever doing nothing?
Not working.
Not reading.
Not on my phone.
Not with friends.
Not exercising.
Just on my own doing nothing? Almost never.
My thoughts are always directed at something else. They’re never ever directed inwards for very long. There are too many distractions. And too many other things I could be doing. There’s always something new on my social media feed to watch, a new book to read, an old friend I could call. The list of things I could do instead of sitting alone doing nothing is infinite.
Seneca says his time is better spent isolated where he can think, read and write than in public court. From what appeared to be inactivity and uselessness, one of the most famous pieces of writing in history was born. Still appearing in book clubs 1959 years later, still teaching timeless lessons.
Before he retired to write, he was a direct advisor to the emperor of the most powerful kingdom on earth. Is my own busy work more important than that? If Seneca could brush off his work as busyness and find time for stillness, why can’t I do the same?
Who am I to say I’m too busy to find time for nothingness?
Who am I to avoid doing nothing?
Am I so important that the world would end if I stopped “doing” for a few moments?
Busyness looks important, “nothingness” is important. Busyness scatters the mind. Nothingness brings it back together.
Question of The Day
How often do I sit alone with my thoughts? How much total nothing is in my typical day?
Happy Saturday! I hope you enjoy some nothing today.
Your Friend,
Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski