In October, the air smells like cardamom and everyone has changed their playlists over to softer sounds. Scenic back road drives look like watercolor paintings, you question your choice of outerwear.
I’ve been neglectful here, it’s just that I’ve been spending my time living off the internet instead of just writing about it. There’s comfort in starting a good movie at midnight, huge pots of chili, and library books I never remember to return on time.
It’s not good enough to seek happiness. We have to revel in what things make us happy when we find them.
Recently a doctor told me about “left brain clutter” – when all of our obligations and goals and stresses and to-do lists make us so overwhelmed it’s hard to see any of them clearly, or do any of them well. She recommended (dare I say, “prescribed”?) at least 1-2 hours a day of just doing what makes you happy.
No agenda. Just doing the things you like because you like them.
This isn’t a presumption that all of us have the luxury to sit on the couch all day in our pajamas (though, if you can do that one day a week, I say do it unabashedly). Being “busy” doesn’t always mean being productive, and can in fact cloud our creativity. We can confuse busyness with being effective by default.
Explore your library. Take a day trip. Cook one big, laborious meal and eat it when it’s finished at 11pm. Take the prescription to just enjoy your time without needing an outcome beyond joyfulness. That may be the best medical advice I’ve ever heard.
Save the Kales! 