The Luxury Of Doing Nothing
We live in a rat race world. Do more with less, and quicker! It's not just work either, at this point it seems to have permeated every aspect of life. Who out there can honestly say they've never felt guilty for not being productive on their own time?
Given those conditions, doing nothing becomes a special sort of luxury. By nothing I mean nothing productive, the sorts of things you do purely for personal enjoyment. An aberration in this era of late stage capitalism, it's a luxury that can't be denominated in dollars, you've got to make it for yourself.
When I was living on the streets I was struck by how the people who were much more well off materially seemed much more unhappy. While I'll never be able to prove it, I'm convinced that much of that was because I was able to do as I pleased while their lives were dictated by their jobs. (Side note: Kris Kristofferson was right, freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose)
Even after I got off the streets and started pretending to be a cog in the machine adult I've tried my best to make time for my favorite luxury. Telling your boss to cut your hours because you'd rather have more time than more money is always a fun conversation.
Indulged in a bit of luxury myself last week, we'd had a camping trip planned but decided that a nice bit of time with nothing 'to do' hanging over us would be even more enjoyable. Instead we did exactly as we pleased and it was rather glorious.
So what's your favorite form of doing nothing?
Photos are all from Tom Wallace Lake in Jefferson Memorial Forest here in Louisville.
Thank you!
Beautiful photos; the second and the last one are my favs.
This is all by design, but I bet you are aware of that already.
Those with all the shiny things that aren't so happy tell themselves that they are happy, once they get more of whatever, that is. Less is always more. More means more chains that bind. Less means more freedom.
If you don't mind my asking, what age were you on the street and how long did you live that way?
Favourite form of doing nothing....
Mine is to just "be", which can be anywhere, but I have a weakness for being near water and trees in particular.
Thank you! The last one is mine, would have used it as the lead photo but that orientation always gets cropped weird for the thumbnail.
Indeed. It's kinda like the prisoner's dilemma in game theory, if we could all say 'fuck you, no' they couldn't make it work but we haven't figured out how to cooperate like that yet.
Drugs, money, time, there's never enough no matter how much you get. One of my friends ended up living in one of the richest neighborhoods in the city, said those were the most unhappy people he'd ever met.
Amen.
24, 25, somewhere in there, spent right around 15 months on the street, back during the Great Recession or whatever they call it these days.
I feel that, learning how to be content to just be was probably the most important thing I got out of the experience of being on the streets. Definitely made the experience more endurable/survivable.
You're welcome! Always the thumbnail cropping issue, lol, totally get that.
I've explored that quite a bit the last few years as to reasons why. Complex situation. Makes me wonder if that has ever been or ever could be possible in this world.
Yeah, wealthy ones are not happy. That's my consistent observation, regardless of how much they have. It's a trap to be caught in such and a miserable existence in my opinion.
There isn't enough time for everything, but if one chooses wisely, one can maximize what one has.
There's some real gold. "Being" is a foreign concept to most these days.
Might I ask as to why/from what angle/perspective? I'm an anarchist, I've explored it a bit in regards to how do we build things that are helpful and not oppressive. On a hyperlocal level we can do it but the more you scale it up the more you run into problems with bickering and power politics.
On one of my wikipedia tangents a while back I came across this. If there is an easy way to get humans to cooperate, some variation on that might just do the trick. I'm still not what you would call optimistic about that though.
That's the hard question to explain, as there really isn't a word to describe that without boxing myself into some label that limits me. I saw your comment late last night and had to really think about this, lol.
Best way I can say what angle/perspective I come from is to say, "I am"....am describing the "to be" in the present.
There you go. That's one aspect right there.
I think when you're dealing with any situation where there are a group of people, group dynamics are always at play, so that's one thing to be aware of.
Another is that there are many who have no comprehension of self-awareness, self-responsibility, and self-knowledge. In fact, there is a great deal of resistance in most people I've known personally to even go in such directions, which leads to further questions of why. At that point, when going deep into that, things get very complicated and I'm not sure I can figure out how to put that into words. 😂
I would suggest that attempting to get humans to do anything is wasted effort best directed towards one's own growth, which then sets an example for others. We are all led to look outside ourselves for solutions. This is a misdirection, based on my experience. Easiest way to change any situation is to change how you are in that situation. I kind of think of it as dancing with a partner and if you change the steps, your partner will end up adapting to that.
Ah, labels. Lol, I know what you mean, my "about" is a whole lot of marklar for similar reasons.
The old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink" seems apt here. The thing is humans can cooperate, although most of the examples I can think of either lie in the distant past or involve times of great crisis.
Meh. By all means attend to your own growth, but if looking outside ourselves for solutions is misdirection, isn't setting an example aiding and abetting that?
What we're talking about requires a paradigm shift in how we view and interact with our fellow humans. Not easy or predictable but it has been my experience that if you reframe things in a way that people can understand, they can and sometimes do change. Takes an individual approach and lots of time, neither of which we as a society are here for. The Socratic method is our friend here and cognitive dissonance our primary adversary.
I noted your "marklar" some time ago and without knowing what it was about, I can say it conveys what you mean very precisely.
I wondering how far of a distant past such an example exists. I'm curious. Adversity is always fodder for shifting one's way of being, hence cooperating.
I should clarify what I mean by misdirection. I mean using inner guidance to navigate, without which, it's very easy to become mislead when looking outside oneself. Interesting question, aiding and abetting misdirection through setting an example. Yes, that could occur and does occur, however, if one is following one's internal guidance system, internal compass, one knows how to be in any given moment (some don't appear to be connected to this internal compass or whatnot, which is another complexity).
That can occur. Is that not you shifting your way of being, therefore changing the steps of your dance so that another is able to understand? This is what I mean by setting an example. When one alters one's way of being in any way, it changes the situation.
From how you see the world, what do you think society is here for?
I would suggest each individual is their own worst enemy/adversary.
Ha, marklar is an old South Park reference, there's an episode where they run into aliens that refer to all people, places, and things as marklar.
I'd have to do some digging to give you a date as to how far back, but it was fairly common within cultures in the Americas pre-colonization. It's been a while since I read about it so I'm hesitant to say which and when.
Lol, most people can't use an external compass any better.
I would say no, the only thing shifting is the language being used. I also have a bad tendency to do it to mess with people for entertainment, like explaining to people how taking communion is a cannibalism ritual.
That 'not here for' was perhaps a bit of slang that should be translated 'not interested in.' I don't think society is here at all, more a notion we all carry around in our head of 'the others' that has no actual, definitive existence. (It's one of Max Stirner's spooks.)
I would suggest that our answers are not mutually exclusive.
You know, that should have clicked in my mind since I saw that episode. 😂 Although, I can tell you I stared at it every time and thought, what is it that keeps drawing my attention here, that sort of very vague sense of something that made no sense until now, LOL.
Hmmm....
So perhaps not that long ago. I won't ask you to go digging, but if you happen upon it, I'd love to know.
True enough there, lol.
That is still shifting, even if only language and language is a powerful thing in itself. I see you like to have a bit of fun, LMAO, can't say I don't do same sort of things at times (limited though).
These are all things that match up to my own experience and observations. I've always found the notion of society quite strange in the sense that it has never made any sense to me.
I would suggest that I agree with your statement. 😂
Sidenote, it's enjoyable to have a dialogue like this, thanks.
Lol, it only came to me years later, after way too much late night coffee and um, herbal home remedies.
If/when I come across that I will pass it along to you.
If we'd had this conversation in Spanish instead of English, would it have altered anything fundamental? I know what you're saying though, at one point I was almost fluent in Russian and would occasionally catch myself thinking in Russian. The quirks of the language gave it a slightly different flavor compared to English but the differences were largely superficial.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this as well, thank you :)
I see, lol. Thanks for if you come across it and passing it along.
Conversation in Spanish yes, but that adds other dimensions. Ha, yeah, it's crucial to think in the language (I suck at languages). Maybe it's a matter of seeing past the superficial.
Such as....
Language has a sound vibration. Think of how whatever emotional state you happen to be in impacts how you speak, the tone, the pattern of the sounds, the choice of words, and the way you form the structure of what you're saying. Also, there is the perception of the other(s)s meaning of the word(s) used that influence. Yet another component is the meaning of the word(s), the various meanings of words, depending on how they are used, as well as the etymology of a word (eg: the word "understand"). There are all I can think of at the moment.
A real pleasure. 😄
Indeed... Sometimes being unproductive and doing nothing is itself a luxury.. that Place is really so Nice. You Got some stunning Pictures and can feel some Good vibes of that place.
Well, for me doing nothing is mostly spent in Nature in hillside and movies.
It's one of my favorite places to go here, especially in the fall. Thank you!
I can't sit still long enough for the movies but nature is one of my go-tos for doing nothing. Especially if it involves mountains or forests :)
it's strange to see these colors are coming from you :-)
very nice refelctions
I thought I was the only one who felt that way 😅
😀😀😀 nope
🤣🤣🤣
The colors were just too nice not to show off :) Thank you!
hehe i see :-)
Even that could be productive. For example I learned many things, including even English words by playing video games, watching movies/TV series, listening to music and podcasts. Actually you can very easily learn, if you do something that you enjoy.
Oh yeah, I wasn't saying that they couldn't be productive, more so that productivity wasn't the object. One of my favorite nothings is to read, particularly history books; simply learning new stuff I find enjoyable. Lol, I was always trying to learn foreign curse words/phrases :)
Reading books is entirely a productive activity. You gain knowledge and perspective by doing it. And they can help you in other things too. For example in calming down, in relieving stress. I love reading fantasy books. They let you escape from this so called reality. At least this is how I read. I finish a fantasy book in a few days, and I imagine the whole story from multiple perspectives. For example as a character of the book, as a different character (either human or something else), or simply as a viewer. And I often think about them months/years later.
First I'd have to say, the colours feel quite strange 😅, but a nice touch.
Crazy I felt like this today. Today was my off day from a seven day work week and I feel like shit for not doing anything productive. Didn't do laundry, didn't shoot, nothing, just laid down resting, eating and then watching football, albeit it feels nice, I feel angry. maybe I shouldn't. It's just how the society has made it look like.
Your words are hard-hitting
Hey, I've got to change it up every once in a while or it gets old. Plus, with all the color it seemed a shame not to show it.
There's more to being human than just work and the daily chores of life, you've got to be able to unwind, relax, recharge. I'm still not sure how we're made to feel guilty about that but it seems to be a common experience. I blame society too. :)
I'll take that as a compliment.
Thank you, and thanks for dropping by!
Perfect way to tell me you're still up and thriving 😅 @dandays
I'm going in so many directions at the same time right now it takes everything I got just to drop an occasional comment. Good thing upvotes are free!
Stop hunting for cheaper cheese Mr. Mousey.
Cutting the cheese is never a dull moment but you know what they say about the chase.
:wink:
As long as you have the right cheese, the stamina, the viscosity, the projection, the volume, the depth, and the duration, it's never a dull moment.
The prize is never worth the effort.
Good thing I wasn't wearing earbuds, I would've been traumatized! = }
That's cool you're hip to SoundCloud. Check out this kid if you have a second. I did that Sasquatch Ent design on his homepage for him several years ago.
I say kid but he just turned 30. Real good kid. I originally worked with him on turntables roughly 20 years ago, his parents would bring him to my house once a week for a couple years back when he was 10-11. It all started with a couple hours on Saturday's but hr never stopped. Now he's got a studio full of equipment now and excelled way beyond anything I used to do.
Check him out, lemme know what you think.
Good morning, Nine.
You ought to be used to the chorus of such these days. It was the only way I could upload audio clips I make onto Hive. Like I need to be on another social media, not, but it was either that or have my friend upload to their account and since I'm the diy type, I opened my own account. All happened organically by accident due a day of ridiculousness and laughter, inspired by a meme from someone many moons ago, that I'll never mention by name.
Checked out your friend's tracks, not bad, would have to listen more extensively. Cool arts! Kudos to you for helping him out!
Isn't that a preface, not an ending to a dialogue?
Good evening Pink Princess.
Hey I resemble that remark!
Check him out when you get a chance, he's super advanced these days and, thank you, glad you like it. The original has more dimension and, surprise, green eyes, a joint and wearing headphones.
He added his own filters and edits. Damn kids.
Yup, definitely looks like you from young and fresh days, don't begrudge younger folks now, time is short.
Aye
I think you've got it all figured out.
Or very close to it 😌
Very beautiful autumn photography.
Thank you!
Watching people interact with each other and knowing which news channel they consume based on the eavesdrop is pretty entertaining.
A homeless guy named Mark once told me "home is in the intellectual capacity to be happy."
Gorgeous photos. But you knew that.
Yeah, back when I was waiting tables that was how you figured out what jokes you could get away with. Pro tip: Telling the lady talking about how Obama was going to impose sharia law that we already have that here, we just call'em blue laws does NOT get you a better tip.
I think Mark was on to something there.
Thank you sir!
🥰
Ahhhh, glowy fall reflections. My doing nothing might be a something to some, but standing on the street corner playing kibble catch with my crow buddy Hopper is in my top ten. Having a "heart to heart" with my dog (he lays on my chest so our hearts touch and we sit there for long stretches or maybe fall asleep) is another fantastic nothing. Doing nothing with animals is always the best.
Lol, I hate fall because it means winter is coming but at the same time I love fall because it's just about the best time for landscapes. Those sound like some nice nothings. Lol, we have cats so the nothings with them are mostly catnaps.
Oh, cats are experts at doing nothing, that's for sure.
I still love winter because I've only had a real (-ish) winter for ten years. But I think climate change might bring us more ice storms, so we'll see how much longer I love winter. Winter's good for doing so much nothing your head explodes.