How Do You Do Nothing?

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I cannot recall a time in my life when I was allowed to do nothing or very little. Of course, I had resting periods, vacations, and holidays over the years but as most women know, we never really rest. There is always something to do.

How do you do nothing for a longer time?

“Go home and heal. You are not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds for about three to four weeks and don’t even think about working.” That was the doctor’s order and at first, I thought he was being too cautious. Not even vacuum cleaning was an option, which I found very amusing. “Does my husband even know our vacuum cleaner work?” I wondered.

I spent the first week in our electric monster recliner and watched TV most of the time, with a nice amount of short naps in between. But how much TV can one watch? I even binge-watched “Sweet Magnolias” on Netflix, and even now, weeks later I am not sure if it was meant to be an endless long Margarita-Commercial or just a TV series with some of the worst actors – and one of the worst writing ever. Time wasted that I will never get back.

But I found some things I loved and enjoyed. “The Pitt” something I would have never thought I would enjoy, was mentioned in an opinionated piece at the New York Times, and when I read the comments, and doctors and ER nurses recommended this medical series, we started watching it and were quickly hooked. Time well spent, looking forward the the next episode.

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It is fast-paced, very realistic, down-to-earth TV. It makes you appreciate the work these trauma doctors and nurses do a lot more. Shockingly open, even showing the birth of a baby. How can nature’s beauty be shocking?

I got bored, I needed to do something else and then I realized. I could do what I wanted. I could finally spend as many hours as I wanted painting, or writing without feeling guilty. Quickly I learned that writing on my blog was not an option, neither was writing on my laptop or computer. The movement of my hands hurt my neck, so I gave up on it. I prescribed myself an away time from all computer screens, and I pretty much stuck to it. Of course, I checked my emails and answered when quotes were requested, but I made clear to all my students and customers that I was taking off. Most of them were understanding. One lady got mad and she felt the need to leave me a very unkind email, which only showed how much she struggles with kindness and how well-behaved I can be. (I still can call someone an a-hole without using the word, what a gift I have.)

And so I painted and practiced, and I even finished an old paint-by-number piece that had been lying around for years.

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I refreshed my calligraphy strokes and I finally opened the Chinese brush painting set, that someone had given to me a couple of years ago.

I had a blast. I have never spent so much time doing ‘nothing’ without feeling guilty.

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I refreshed my calligraphy strokes and I finally opened the Japanese brush painting set, that someone had given to me a couple of years ago.

I had a blast. I have never spent so much time doing ‘nothing’ without feeling guilty.

I ordered a practice book “365 Days of Art: A Creative Exercise for Every Day of the Year” and it gave me so much joy. Every morning I could not wait to do my homework and now, after five weeks, I know I will continue all 365 exercises, even though some show me my limits – which is not a bad thing in retrospect.

Sometimes it feels like a book meant for children, other days, the tasks are a bit more complicated.

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I don’t like to use pencils or crayons but they were part of an art set I got for Christmas many, many years ago. I finally get some use out of it. Turns out I am easily entertained and a grateful student.

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It gets the brain working, the heart pumping, and the soul singing.

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I have walked away from my blog and writing and as of today, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to return. Things surely have changed. I feel tongue-tied, which is never a good thing. Is it still safe to share openly an opinion that might go against some people’s views? (No, it’s not safe)

Perhaps I have gotten bored with my blog and when I thought about it, I felt that it was an issue. But why?

I am still the “The Happy Quitter” but so much time has passed since I started this blog as Nonsmoking Ladybug. Eleven years ago I signed up at WordPress. I had no idea what blogging was, or how it was supposed to be done. I just knew I needed to get some things out of my system during my first year as an ex-smoker.

A month into blogging, I thought about buying the domain THEHAPPYQUITTER but back then it wasn’t affordable. THEY offered it to me for $999/yr and of course that was too much and I forgot all about it…until I found myself eleven years later with endless time on my hands.

Too funny, I just bought the domain for 99 cents/yr, spent about $15 of extras, and now it’s mine and I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Perhaps a separation from THE HAPPY QUITTER and a new name for this one? Maybe I should publish a “Quit Smoking book” and share my experiences? (No, the world does not need that.)

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I am allowed to work again and I am back in control of the vacuum cleaner. (Yeah, me.)

I have learned a lot in the last five weeks. I am replaceable, which I always expected. Come to find out, the blogging world will continue with or without me – that’s quite a shock. 🙂

Boredom is the killer of all creativity and that includes blogging. Perhaps it’s time to shake things up a bit.

I have a nice collection of photographs on my computer that nobody will ever see, and while my readers, followers – and all others – will live happily ever after -and beyond – without seeing the pictures, I have decided to share some of them anyway. Too many for just one wordless day in the week, how about that?

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Photo of The Day?

I have traveled and I would love to share some of the not so well known places here on my blog. Hidden gems, that tourists normally won’t see – or don’t know too much about – and of course, it’s time to torture readers and blogging friends with MY Austria, which has nothing to do with “The Sound of Music” and the singing family.

Perhaps a Throwback Thursday before even I forget some of the better blog posts I have written in the last eleven years. Were they better, or perhaps they just felt that way because it took time, effort, and research to write them?

Well, let’s see if I will find blogging joy again, if not, I promise you won’t miss me. 🙂