Beautiful post Lindsey. It takes constant practice to do nothing. I know for me, I feel guilty or lazy when I am not going a million miles per hour. It’s so strange what’s become of our attention spans and unfortunate that the more we consume, the less we know ourselves.
The more we consume, the less we know ourselves! ❤️love that❤️ as someone who consumes a lot of “good” things (books, podcasts, wisdom) I recognize that this is still true. We need time to digest!
I thoroughly enjoyed this piece as someone who struggles to allow himself do nothing and who often gets too caught up in the online world - this was a breath of fresh air. Thank you
this post resonates so much. thank you for sharing your experience! I've historically always had a hard time with the 4 of Wands and I think that says a lot about how I perceive success and joy, and how hard it is to untangle success from "work" for me. your perspective here is very appreciated ❤️
No surprise here, but I agree with you 100%. The one bit from Odell really got me: “it is the financially incentivized proliferation of chatter, and the utter speed at which waves of hysteria now happen online.” Yes. It’s why I left all the social media platforms and don’t intend to go back. I started Odell’s book but didn’t finish it—just not the right time for me. Perhaps I’ll pick it up again soon. Also, I’m honestly still not sure what to make of tarot but I’m enjoying slowly learning about it through what you share. :D
Yes! There were some moments of the book that were slow for me too - I’m a firm believer that books will come around when the time is right. And I’m happy that you’re here. ❤️
Oh! I love this idea of the third space and I think I’m really starting to carve that out for myself. I actually had a conversation with a friend the other day where I asked if I was “ignorant” because I’ve shifted how I’m participating in the world. I’ve jumped off the notification & news cycle treadmill and it feels so countercultural I was nervous I was leaning toward ignorance. Turns out I’m just moving toward more balance. No shocker here, I’m also a Virgo. All about those walks and birds. Eagerly awaiting my hummingbird friends.
I love that Odell book. It's one of the few in the last few years I've read twice and it's a fairly standard inclusion on the syllabus no matter what workshop I'm working on. She just put out her second one, Saving Time, and I'm almost finished with it. I love it too.
Such a languidly delicious article Lindsey. I planned to write on this very topic today after reading another article on “Lying Fallow.” It will be hard to equal your illuminating writing. As a “contemplative personality,” a term I coined to describe myself decades ago, the world has always moved too fast for me with far too much “doing” and not enough mindful observation and appreciation. It’s worse now that computers intended to increase productivity and free up more personal time (sardonically LOL) have sped up everything, including social and “leisure time” spent on social media. I have spent much of my life escaping or dreaming of escaping the maniacal busyness of modern American culture.
These are my favorite contemplative escapes:
- Hiking in the woods (daily), usually pausing to sit for a few minutes to listen to water somewhere along the way
- Watching the small birds and hummingbirds from my spot at the edge of our tiny garden
- Reading and meditating in the warm sun on the front porch
- Meandering through antique stores and bookstores savoring the richness of past eras and present book worlds
Thanks for a genuinely uplifting, reflective article. I’ll link to your article and may even use parts of my comment in my own article. 😊
Lindsey (and fellow readers): I was inspired by your article to start Jenny Odell’s How To Do Nothing. There is this great hour-long interview with her about her new book, Saving Time, right here: https://emergencemagazine.org/interview/another-kind-of-time/
Beautiful post Lindsey. It takes constant practice to do nothing. I know for me, I feel guilty or lazy when I am not going a million miles per hour. It’s so strange what’s become of our attention spans and unfortunate that the more we consume, the less we know ourselves.
The more we consume, the less we know ourselves! ❤️love that❤️ as someone who consumes a lot of “good” things (books, podcasts, wisdom) I recognize that this is still true. We need time to digest!
I thoroughly enjoyed this piece as someone who struggles to allow himself do nothing and who often gets too caught up in the online world - this was a breath of fresh air. Thank you
Thanks so much!
this post resonates so much. thank you for sharing your experience! I've historically always had a hard time with the 4 of Wands and I think that says a lot about how I perceive success and joy, and how hard it is to untangle success from "work" for me. your perspective here is very appreciated ❤️
Thanks for these words, I agree I often feel a push back when I receive cards that are like “play! relax!” 😅and thank you for reading 💜
So much good stuff here. I so enjoyed it.
Thank you 🙏🏽
Thanks again for the inspirational writing, Lindsey. Here's my article where I mention yours: https://chuckpetch.substack.com/p/living-langorously
No surprise here, but I agree with you 100%. The one bit from Odell really got me: “it is the financially incentivized proliferation of chatter, and the utter speed at which waves of hysteria now happen online.” Yes. It’s why I left all the social media platforms and don’t intend to go back. I started Odell’s book but didn’t finish it—just not the right time for me. Perhaps I’ll pick it up again soon. Also, I’m honestly still not sure what to make of tarot but I’m enjoying slowly learning about it through what you share. :D
Yes! There were some moments of the book that were slow for me too - I’m a firm believer that books will come around when the time is right. And I’m happy that you’re here. ❤️
Oh! I love this idea of the third space and I think I’m really starting to carve that out for myself. I actually had a conversation with a friend the other day where I asked if I was “ignorant” because I’ve shifted how I’m participating in the world. I’ve jumped off the notification & news cycle treadmill and it feels so countercultural I was nervous I was leaning toward ignorance. Turns out I’m just moving toward more balance. No shocker here, I’m also a Virgo. All about those walks and birds. Eagerly awaiting my hummingbird friends.
Yes! Cheers to ignorance of the monetized attention traps! 🍻
I love that Odell book. It's one of the few in the last few years I've read twice and it's a fairly standard inclusion on the syllabus no matter what workshop I'm working on. She just put out her second one, Saving Time, and I'm almost finished with it. I love it too.
Adding to the list! Thank you
Such a languidly delicious article Lindsey. I planned to write on this very topic today after reading another article on “Lying Fallow.” It will be hard to equal your illuminating writing. As a “contemplative personality,” a term I coined to describe myself decades ago, the world has always moved too fast for me with far too much “doing” and not enough mindful observation and appreciation. It’s worse now that computers intended to increase productivity and free up more personal time (sardonically LOL) have sped up everything, including social and “leisure time” spent on social media. I have spent much of my life escaping or dreaming of escaping the maniacal busyness of modern American culture.
These are my favorite contemplative escapes:
- Hiking in the woods (daily), usually pausing to sit for a few minutes to listen to water somewhere along the way
- Watching the small birds and hummingbirds from my spot at the edge of our tiny garden
- Reading and meditating in the warm sun on the front porch
- Meandering through antique stores and bookstores savoring the richness of past eras and present book worlds
Thanks for a genuinely uplifting, reflective article. I’ll link to your article and may even use parts of my comment in my own article. 😊
Those contemplative escapes sound just right!
Sorry for the length. I keep trying and failing to keep my comments brief.
It’s one of the upsides of Substack - you don’t have to be brief!
Loved this book! Lovely post x
Lindsey (and fellow readers): I was inspired by your article to start Jenny Odell’s How To Do Nothing. There is this great hour-long interview with her about her new book, Saving Time, right here: https://emergencemagazine.org/interview/another-kind-of-time/
Thanks, Chuck!