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Thursday, January 11, 2007

a post about nothing

up and away
forward

where has the week gone?

we are settling into the groove of it all. first week back to school for the big bug and of course it was riddled with the unexpected. but we are marching forward.

a friend asked me last night if i was good at doing nothing. it caught me off guard. i had never really thought about it. at work, we have been talking a lot about the kabbalistic practice of trying to focus on what is directly behind you as a form of meditation. the nothingness that you can never see. (the artist i work for is developing a series of pieces based on this idea.)

nothing. behind us.

i tend to dwell on the past. worry too much about what didn't happen/get done/go the way i had hoped.

everything. before us.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an interesting exercise. For some reason, I find it anxiety-inducing -- I'm not good with the unseen. Perhaps that means I should work on that! (I'm not good at doing nothing either.)

Glad you're getting back into the groove.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm....I tend to worry about the FUTURE....think/worry/think/worry....untill I go nuts ;o)
I am NOT good at doing nothing. My mind is always spinning!
Meditation would be SO good for me!

BunkleLife said...

Hmmmm. I worry forward mostly, but as I get older I find those worrying backwards things popping up too.

I went through a period of nasty uncertainly and anxiety before I moved to Vancouver. Every morning I made myself sit on the couch for 15 minutes and focus on an object, repeat what it was. And I gave my self some limits on my usual drug for anxiety - bad tv. And it helped. It really did. Learning to be quiet, learning to focus - whether it be on what's behind you (very interesting!) or some other thing is what keeps you present. And usually, that's where we need to be.

lisa solomon said...

want to hear more about this piece... [so curious who you work w/ for too...]

i am NOT good at doing nothing. i need to get better...

Anonymous said...

I try to remember that worrying about the present/future does nothing...except maybe help to form an ulcer or something. But it is always a challenge.

I love the photographs of your K running along, without a care in the world.

this single spark said...

I'm a weird worrier. Not so much focused on the past or the future. It's all about right now. For example, RIGHT NOW, I'm taking a break from working on my thesis proposal. This thing is causing me great anxiety, but only when I'm working on it. Can easily (too easily!!) put it out of my mind when I'm not. I don't know if meditation would work for me... I think I'd just use it as a stalling technique. Plus, since I spend so much time sitting quiet and focused, I really feel the need to move around.

Maybe dance therapy? Bet the little bug would be a great partner!

Anonymous said...

how do you like the book grub? it looks great! i am also curious about your job, it sounds interesting.

hannah said...

sometimes i fear i am too good at doing nothing. i can feel a lateness in me that pushes me to create, read, think and grow so that i dont sink into the nothing. not that i dont like a little nothing now and then, i could use a little more at 730 saturday mornings...

Anonymous said...

Its hard to start thinking that way, to focus on nothing but what's in front of you. I get bored in yoga and any kind of meditation is impossible. But when I used to run I found it quite meditative. Now its only my crafting. When I'm knitting or sewing there's nothing else on my mind because I'm concentrating so much.

Tracy said...

oh leslie i haven't really cracked "grub" yet. keep picking it up, then something calls me away. you know! will let you know. (hopefully this weekend will be it!)

shari said...

i think it sounds like an interesting exercise also. would love to hear more. i'm pretty good at doing nothing....unfortunately! xo shari