Tuesday Truth.
Number 55.
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.
-Winnie the Pooh
Just let those words sink in for a moment.
Doing Nothing.
Does that make your stomach knot up as you think of all the things on your “to do” list?
Or does it feel you with a sense of relief? The feeling of relaxing in a hammock underneath palm trees with the ocean breeze gently caressing your face. Nowhere to be and nothing to do. Nothing but enjoying this present moment.
We live in a fast-paced world. A world of go, go, go. Do.do.do.
I know that I often fall into that trap. I am your “typical” type A Virgo who likes checking things off of her lists and wants her shiny gold stars.
But inside all that chasing doesn’t really feel good. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have goals and aspirations. I think those are good things. They make us push out of our comfort zones and grow.
It’s all about balance.
Taking the time for Doing Nothing.
Of listening to all the things you can’t hear.
Silence. Stillness. Quieting your mind.
Meditation. Contemplation.
Just Breathe.
Since implementing
Not bothering.
Do you know that most of the things that you worry about often don’t happen? And in the things that do (and yes, awful things do happen), you often find a strength that you never knew you had. Things that force you to live in the moment, to keep taking one step forward, until finally you emerge on the other side.
Today I hope that you carve out a moment of stillness. It doesn’t have to be long. Just a moment of Doing Nothing. Of quieting your mind. Of being present in Now.
Let your light shine!
Amy
*going forward my Tuesday Truth series will come out once a month on the Third Tuesday of the month. I was trying to write them every week and then would miss here and there when life came calling, so in the vein of hoping for more consistency in 2020, I’ve decided to give them a specific home.
Winnie the Pooh is full of the wonderful quotes and truisms. Even the minor characters come out with some amazing things from time to time – Piglet in particular.
So true!! I actually had a dream about a Winnie the Pooh quote a few nights ago. I was reading it (I don’t think it’s a real one, by the way. Not that I can remember it) and then I saw it again, written on something else and kind of peeking out of an enclosed space. All that to say, after that dream, I knew I wanted to pick a quote by Winnie the Pooh. As I was reading through them (by all the characters), I was in love with so many that it was hard to choose one.
Pooh says wise things from time to time. 😉
He certainly does!! 🙂
Wonderful
Thanks for the follow.
This post was perfectly timed for me, yes? I know it’s a Tuesday Truth and I’ve arrived on Saturday, but you wrote this for me, yes? I didn’t have enough downtime this week and I suffered some pretty bad anxiety surges, reminiscent of old me, sick me. I slept near 12 hours last night and woke up this morning alone in the house, just me and the tea and the view of my trees. WHY I can’t make that happen each day is partially scheduled commitments as a parent, partially guilt over those to-dos, and quite a lot of it’s DARK too long in the am. I really needed the reminder, thank you.
I’m so glad this post was perfectly timed for you, Joey! As I mentioned to Jonathan in the comments, I had a dream about a Winnie the Pooh quote and knew I needed to find one for the week. This is the one that struck me. So, yes, this was written for you. 🙂
I’m sorry that you didn’t have enough downtime this week. I am not too fun to be around when that happens to me. Tea and the view of trees sounds like a lovely, calming time. I hope it was.
I understand each and every one of those “why” reasons. I hope that next week treats you better. 🙂
I am surprised, and yet not surprised how this quote came from Winnie the Pooh. I have always loved the word, “balance.” Now to let doing nothing be part of this balance. Great post, Amy!
Thank you, Erica! Cheers to “balance”. I often feel like I need to go,go,go. I love the phrase “remember you are a human being not a human doing”.