Last Sunday, I was sitting on the dock in my ideal “Muskoka Postcard” setting. It truly is my favourite place on the planet and it was the perfect day. I had been waiting for exactly this moment. The sun was sparkling off the water, the birds were singing a melodious tune and most importantly, I had the gift of time. Imagine: white space in my calendar; time to do whatever my heart desired.
And then I got bored…
Yep, I am embarrassed to admit it, but I got bored. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had a good book, plenty of projects on the go, outdoor activities that I could jump into, but none of it seemed to interest me.
Then it hit me…
It was the first time in a very long time that I didn’t have something pressing in my calendar. No deadline was looming over me, no event to attend, no unanswered phone calls; it was truly time to relax and smell the proverbial roses. I had been longing for this time to myself, but somehow, I had fallen out of practice and didn’t know how to take advantage of it.
For most of my adult life, I have known that it’s a daily practice to find peace in the day. So I decided to exercise my right to not do anything except listen to the waves lap up on the shore and feel the whistle of the wind through the trees. I also decided to enjoy a majestic sunset that night without reaching for my phone to tweet, share or post it. I need to continue this practice.
The summer is ahead of us so here’s your challenge. Block white space in your calendar—a blank, empty moment of time with no expectations attached. Connect with nature in a real, authentic, undistracted way. Ignite your senses by focusing on just one sense at a time…savour it, feel it, and keep it for all for yourself. Stick with it long enough to bust through to the other side of that nagging discontentment.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But in our overly distracted lives, it can be the hardest thing we’ll ever do.
Happy Summer Friends. I wish you boredom…lots of it!
Dave
