Hospitals being how they are (SLOW), we ended up spending about 5 hours together today. We knit, we talked, we walked up and down the halls slowly. It was pleasant to spend time with a friend this way, but one thing that she said has struck me and stuck with me. She has been working on learning to just enjoy things how they are and not always have to be doing something.
Consider that for a moment. When is the last time you just sat still not really doing anything in particular? I don't do it very often, but I knew right away what she was getting at. Most of the time I feel guilty if all I am doing is watching TV. This is why I knit so much! If my hands are busy creating something I don't feel like I'm wasting time. Same with being outdoors. In our busy lives, our busy world full of expectations, goals, drive and all those other good things I have often forgotten how to just BE. Now, those of you who know me realize that I've had many times throughout my life when I've been forced to be sedentary. Due to circumstances beyond my control I've had to heal from surgeries and heal and heal . . . more often than I'd like to admit. Even during those times it has been hard to feel good about sitting still and being quiet.
Today, though, when my friend mentioned it, I realized that quiet time, time of peace, reflection, solitude - those times are important. I find myself currently in a situation where I spend more time idle than I prefer and now I am resolved to allow myself to revel in that quietude. It can be a very good thing to be peaceful, to contemplate and examine one's life and to appreciate simply being there.
What do you think about this idea?
2 comments:
For me, I find that knitting gives the jiggly, jumpy side of me something to do and allows my brain (and my heart) time to relax and think things over. I'm not always just killing time with knitting - sometimes, the knitting is saving me!
That's a good point, Ellen. That is the same for me, too, sometimes. It gives me permission to sit still. It helps me focus my mind. Sometimes it helps me think through problems. Hmm . . . I think I'll need to post about this!
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