Driving along the water the other day, I heard a fragment of an interview on NPR. I did not catch the name of the woman speaking, but the subject she spoke of with such passion caught my ear and heart.
The conversation was about the idea of “Unscripted Idleness” and how our modern connectivity has impacted our ability to make space for leisure and introspection. The woman interviewing her seemed to struggle with the idea, translating it for herself into “learning to be bored.” Perhaps she is a natural extrovert.
For myself, I know the importance of carving out time to be still and listen to my own inner voice. It can be so easy in our general flow of productivity and achieving to forget that. How often do you see people sitting alone, perhaps because their companion goes to the restroom, and automatically pulling out a device, be it phone or tablet or computer? In the midst of such noise ~ both internal and external ~ it can be hard to really hear yourself and check in with your values and priorities.
We seem as a society to have lost some of our comfort in idleness. And yet there is some push back. More and more you hear of people taking “unplugged vacations” or “social media fasts.” We are learning to re-create that space for unscripted idleness. After all, we are human beings not human doings.
I find my best space for mental idleness while walking outdoors, away from any of the tasks that need doing. Where do you find yours?