On the importance of doing nothing

winnie-the-pooh-doing-nothing-quotes

So, how often do you do nothing?

There was a time, a couple of years ago, when my standard answer to “what are you doing over the weekend?” was “Nothing”.

Of course, doing nothing is never really nothing. It’s what the Italians call “Dolce far Niente”, which translates to “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It’s not about being lazy, rather, it is the pleasure of savoring moments of idleness. There are a lot of simple things that we do when we are doing nothing – reading, dreaming, taking a nap, going for long aimless walks, watching the changing shapes in the clouds, having a leisurely brunch with friends.Continue reading→

Why You Should Adopt A Playful Approach To Life

adopt-a-playful-approach-to-life I think most of us take life and ourselves far too seriously. We take on the mantle of roles and responsibilities at work and home, and believe that we are indispensable, that the world would collapse if we played hooky from work, or didn’t organize the linen cabinet, or dust the shelves before the guests came over.

“What would people think” seems to be the constant refrain running through our heads as we rush through life, doing, doing, doing. Which often leads to burn out, a growing sense of irritation, and a disconnect from our very essence.

One antidote to this is to adopt a sense of playfulness in our lives.

But, what does adopting a playful approach to life mean?

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Self-care February: Are you in?

February is the month of red – red roses, red balloons, red velvet cake, red hearts proclaiming undying love for one another.

It’s the month for candlelight dinners and the exchange of gifts, flowers, and cards.

It’s the month when sappy romantic songs come blaring across the airwaves, sugary sweet, treacle like, seducing us with their promise of love eternal.

And I’m not in the mood for any of it.Continue reading→