The other day I instituted the first of a monthly routine of Free Electronics Day. We had a pool party to attend so it wasn’t that bad on the kids. And we (Mom and Dad) had to also give up computer and television,which was interesting.
I helped sort Lego’s for my middle son while the other kids just wandered about the house lost in their own thoughts. (Truly they enjoy doing that.) I offered to play a board game or something with them but they declined. Few chores were done and we were amazingly lazy.
And I had an epiphany. The day not only seemed to stretch forever but it felt a lot like the summer’s I’d had growing up. Those languid days of nothing that seemed to go on for years. I thought it was just a perception of time difference as I aged. But now I’m wondering if it’s a symptom of too many choices or/and/of things to do.
It’s the classic example of how boredom can make just standing in a line for 2 minutes seem like 10 intolerable hours. Yet, if you completely remove the NEED to do anything specific and the NEED to accomplish anything with your day. The day seems to stretch out in time without any of the usual stress involved.
By 11 am I looked at my watch and was amazed. It felt as if it should be 1pm and not 11am. I had the whole day ahead of me to accomplish so few goals. I actually finished the family filing!
Now it could be that instead of retreating to a book during a no-electronic day I chose to do other small things and try to play with the kids. I’m willing to concede that may have played a part in slowing down time. Because I’ve spent an entire weekend doing nothing but reading and by the end of it I wasn’t anywhere near as relaxed and introspective as I was by the end of Sunday.
Of course I’m not going to go so far as to suggest meditation. I’m not that kind of person. I can sit quiet with my thoughts but they will enevitably entertain itself with some scenario or another. Every time I try to clear my mind or think on just one thing, well… I fall asleep. So no meditation for me unless I’m planning a nap!
But simplifying my life on a daily basis. THAT is something that sounds rather intriguing these days. Giving myself just 1 to 2 tasks to achieve instead of frantically trying to put as many daily dents in all the giant stacks of “stuff” I’ve given myself to do. Perhaps that will be the true path to my own personal nirvana.
Or a nervous breakdown as my “to do” list explodes in overload. But I imagine the Sanitarium may be blissfully relaxing!