Wednesday, March 9, 2011

the art of doing nothing

an art I have mastered.
....

Yesterday.

I should have cleaned my closet.....I curled up on my bed and read. 
I should have folded the mountain of laundry that is piling up and threatening an avalanche that will burry my children in mismatched socks.....I feel asleep on my bed, after I read of course.
I thought about making chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.......I threw some waffles together while I was on the phone.
I should have made the kids pick up their rooms.....but we read an extra chapter in our book.
I should have given the dog a bath.....but....well....I just didn't want to.
I looked at some recipes trying to decide what to make--cookies? muffins? granola?.........we had a handful of trail mix instead.
I should have got into a crazy spring cleaning mood and scrubbed my baseboards......but who does that?
I wanted to be productive......or did I?

I thought about maybe, possibly, regretting not getting much done.....but then I didn't.
phew.


what didn't you do?

(it kinda feels good getting it all out in the open:)

24 comments:

A Place to Reside said...

Oh dear, I really haven't been getting the house in order since we moved...a month ago. It's functional but not pretty or tidy, but I've been semi-okay with functional. :-) Though I've also been known to neglect laundry piles until they become life-threatening.

MJ said...

Loved, loved, loved this post! This is exactly what I feel like doing this weekend :)Nothing

thobeka said...

I have a to-do list that remains untouched, and I'm OK with that :) We all need days of 'nothingness' sometimes.

Unknown said...

I painted the closet. But it was a very little closet. And it was just white paint, nothing fancy. I did have a rather difficult time determining if my hair was clean, however, given the fact that my white streaks are natural....I SHOULD have made sure it wasn't paint, but didn't. Better?
P.S. There is a beautiful poem about this very "should have" thought...let me find it.

Unknown said...

Found it! I dedicated this to you:
http://threadsofagypsy.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-meant-to-do-my-work-today.html
have a happy day!

Kaitlyn Luce said...

I did everything that I had "planned" to do, I suppose. Not without a little procrastination and finishing it all at 9:30 last night. I'm not doing THAT again.

Lesley said...

were you spying on me yesterday???

i feel like i had the same kind of day. ay y y!

banananutmeg said...

I rocked the procuctivity train yesterday and made curtains for Corbin's closet.
Today will be a lazy day. After preschool, I plan to read a book and eat ice cream.

Tiffani said...

Obviously I seriously need to relax and do nothing! I will try but it is sooo hard for me!

Shannon said...

Mmm that sounds lovely. I really need a good book to curl up with! I'm on the waiting list for The Help at the library, so I will look forward to a few long, lazy days of reading when that comes in for me. :)

Cre8tiveQueen said...

I love when I up early so I can get a couple things done before work and...
I should have blogged this morning but instead I created art, and picked up my mess from last night's creating art (stayed up way too late!)

Ang said...

I've had quite a few of those kinds of days lately. Yesterday, though - I made a REALISTIC to do list (for once!) and scratched off more than I thought I would - without staying up or stressing out or sacrificing a good time with friends. I was so proud of myself & it felt good not to be worked up about an list that wasn't completely done!

nicole said...

your yesterday could have been my yesterday, except i dug through the attic looking for a d clamp before i curled up with a book. instead of waffles we had puffed pancakes. extra reading. a few video games. low key. these days make us better moms, dontcha think?

connie said...

Oh my goodness, you must have been spying on me on the weekends, because that's how we normally spend them! Some days we need these days so don't be ashamed to have enjoyed it!

Moments and Impressions said...

You did a lot... you read a good book, you took a nap, made waffles, had a phone conversation, researched some recipes... and sounds like you enjoyed all those things. Hooray for doing things for you and that you enjoy!

Carol said...

I didnt do exactly what you didnt do. And I loved every minute of it! Sometimes you just need a day like that and it is perfectly fine. Enjoy today too!

Jacqui said...

I didn't unpack from our honeymoon in Mexico. We got back on Saturday. I know. Instead of unpacking, I've been wearing the sarong I wore all last week as a scarf this week. Just don't want to let go quite yet...

Rachael said...

There's nothing wrong with not doing things once and awhile. After all, you're a hard working Mom. You deserve a break.

Amelia PS said...

actually not-doing is something an item I put on my "to-do" list!!!
loved this. In our house, we call the laundry pile: the laundry monster, its so endeering because it allows us to do other things.
I, personally, too, took 5 minutes just for me (http://www.ztastylife.com/2011/03/tiny-journeys-in-my-kitchen-4-5-minutes.html). Next time I will make it more than 5 minutes ;)

summer said...

i didn't organize my kitchen drawer.
i didn't organize any drawer.
i didn't hang anything on any wall in my house.
i didn't clean up in the should-be baby's room.
i didn't throw away the oranges that have been sitting on my table as a centerpiece and are starting to rot.
i didn't make the bed today.
i didn't put away the shoes piling up by the door.
i didn't use up the spinach in the fridge.
and i haven't found a place for any of the stuff i've thrifted lately.

but...
i DID make a new soup for dinner. and i felt ridiculously good about it. :)

LOVED this one, sheena!

Casey said...

Love, love, love this. As a college senior, I have mastered the art of doing nothing when I should be doing any number of things. Just today I opted to watch an entire season of Modern Family on DVD, instead of study for my finals, do laundry, go to the gym, the list goes on...

jenniferhoiyin said...

on tuesday we didn't get out of our pajama's until 3pm. it wasn't the first time.

Rach H @ FamilyEverAfter said...

i owe you a big-time thank you! i just bought a new pair of running shoes. i had just read your running series, and i remembered your idea of asking for last years models. they had the perfect pair available, and i bought and spent half what i would have. thank you for that helpful idea!

AllAmericanGrl said...

umm we haven't cleaned the house this week. Like REALLY clean it, just tidied (is this even a word?) up here and there and left to go to the Zoo or to go play outside! I love vacation time!