Читать книгу Moments in Between - David Kundtz - Страница 16

Finally Getting It

Often I find it difficult to get across the idea of doing nothing. I first discovered the resistance to the idea in myself. I continue to discover it in other people.

We are just not used to doing nothing. It sounds and feels and seems wrong somehow. We want to fill up the time with something.

At a recent mini-seminar at a bookstore, a young man, about seventeen, entered late, wearing his hat backward and carrying a skateboard. He sat down in the middle of the front row and paid close attention to what I was saying.

Midway through the presentation he raised his hand and said, “What you're saying is that we should spend a lot of time just thinking about the really important things in life, right?”

“Nooo,” I answered,”I'm suggesting that's something we should not do! Just do nothing, don't try to think about anything!” My answer was met with a vexed and quizzical look. The look remained, and as I continued the seminar his attention stayed focused on my answer to his question, and not on what I was saying.

After a little while, he stood up quite suddenly, smiled at me, gathered up his skateboard and backpack, and began to leave.

“So long,” I said, interrupting my presentation. All eyes were on him as he took the opportunity to say, “So long! Oh, and thanks for Nothing. I appreciate it!”

I think he meant it.

Thanks for Nothing!

—A young seminar participant

Today, consider the question: What is my understanding of doing nothing?