There is something about the summer that just inspires laziness and overall enjoyment of life, doncha think?
The heat and the humidity tell us to slow down and spend some time on the porch or patio (or the hammock if you are lucky enough to have one), during the heat of the day or evening.
However, thanks to air conditioning, and the generally hectic pace of modern life, we seldom slow down anymore no matter how hot it gets. In this regard, we are going against nature.
Do you see animals working hard in the heat, of their own accord? Nope, they are lazing in some shady spot, eyeing us humans and no doubt wondering why we are acting so damn crazy.
Karen made a thought-provoking post on her blog, Profound Journey, a couple of days ago, regarding slowing down and doing nothing. Not only is the post worth a read (as all of hers are), but the comments are as well. Most of us are doing too much and feeling guilty, should we be doing “nothing”. Whatever doing “nothing” means to you.
For some of us it is anytime we are not doing “something” for someone else.
For others it is whenever we are not producing “something” or going somewhere to do “something”.
For most of us, it is when we feel we are not using our time efficiently – we are “wasting time”, doing “nothing”. Or “nothing in particular”.
We are being lazy, by doing “nothing”.
But what if we reframe this and call it something else? I just downloaded the digital version ($2.65 on Kobo!) of a book I borrowed from the library many years ago. This book opened my mind to the revolutionary (to me) idea that doing “nothing” is vital to creativity and the spirit. Back in the ’80s, when I first read If You Want to Write, this book was already old. It was first published in 1938.
“So you see, imagination needs moodling, – long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.” If you want to write – Brenda Ueland
Moodling. What a great, old-fashioned word that needs to make a comeback! Let’s not call our lovely, empty days or hours being “lazy” or doing “nothing”. Why not write “moodling” or “moodle time” or “gone moodling” in your calendar instead?
I’ve grown to love moodling. And I hardly even don’t feel guilty about it, anymore.
And if you’re new to the concept of moodling, the long, languid days of summer are the perfect time to start working on your moodle game. Abandon any air-conditioned spaces and find a nice shady spot to stretch out in, with a good book and a cold bevvy. It’ll help start you on the righteous path. (You get bonus points if you doze off!)
Let’s make this the Summer of Laziness Moodling.
Rock (and moodle) on,
The WB
Can you guess my theme for this year’s A-Z Challenge? All of my A-Z posts this month will be tied into my theme, which is represented by the title of a song that was popular when I was a child. Can you figure it out as the days (and posts) go by? Leave your guesses (one per day only, please) in the comments. At the end of the challenge, I will reveal the theme. Have fun!
Terrific post, Deb! And not just because you paid me such a nice compliment – although thanks so much for that 🙂 It’s terrific because I got so wrapped up in replying to comments on the Journal of a Solitude ‘Empty Days’ post that I didn’t stand back and look at the big picture. You did and so you saw that people really were struggling with the concept of ‘doing nothing’, so much so that they felt a huge need to reframe it as something else.
And that’s the other reason your post is terrific. You found a reframe that’s perfect. Let’s indeed have more moodling time. After all, Brenda Ueland’s book is still considered one of the top writing books of all time, and who are we to argue with her process. Moodling days are ahead….when the A-Z challenge ends.
Thank you, Karen! Moodle on!
I love that term moodling. It fits that time spent outside just staring off into space on a hot, humid day perfectly …. or curled up by the fireplace with a book or good movie on a frigid day in winter.
I think I’ve found my new favourite expression!
Oh – and I forgot to mention my new song guess. *Summertime* – Janis Joplin? maybe Ella Fitzgerald. Both give the bluesy tune a nice mellow feel 🙂
Thanks for the guess, Joanne!
Great! The world needs more moodlers. Also, my autocorrect needs to stop changing the word to doodlers, although doodling is a perfect accompaniment to moodling, in my books!
hehehe! I agree – doodling is a good way to moodle 🙂
I can’t wait for some good old fashioned moodling time. Thanks for giving me a new word for my vocabulary.
You are welcome, Jean!
Who needs summer to moodle, I can moodle all year long! I only feel guilty once in a while. I learned a long time ago that it’s okay to allow myself some down time. So moodle on my friends!
How about “Lazy, Hazy, Crazy, Days of Summer?”
Yesssss! There is not bad season/time for moodling. Thanks for the guess, Karen!
Yes, I love this concept too! We do have that hammock, and when the old one finally tore through and broke (spilling me and grandbabies in a giggling mess to the ground), we replaced it with a QUILTED hammock. Now THERE lies the difference, to these old-ish bones! I can lie there by the hour, listening to nature, watching my flower gardens, reading my books, and yes, sleeping. I long for the warm day when the frame comes out the basement and we can hang it again. I for one do not ever feel guilty about it.
Good for you, Cuz! Sounds like you could teach a course in moodling!
I can do nothing easily. I’m part slacker and part thinker. Therefore, like most writers, when I appear to be doing nothing, I can very well be doing something in my brain. Or I might be doing nothing.
Odd that you mention Ueland’s book. I have a copy of it floating around here somewhere, and have been thinking that I should read it. I didn’t buy it, but seem to have inherited it.
Ally, I hadn’t thought of her book in YEARS. But when I was reading Karen’s post about doing nothing, it reminded me of that book I read and couldn’t afford to buy way back then. It didn’t take much Googling (search: best books for writers) to come up with the name and the author so I could purchase it and reread the part about how important it was to do nothing.
Hmm, moodling…I have a few blank pages in the back of my dictionary. I have begun to make use of them adding words that are either made up or ones I run across that may indeed be in the dictionary but which hold my interest for other reasons and I want to keep them separate. The word moodling is now being added to those pages. I like it! Great post, Deb. Like on Karen’s post the consensus is that empty days and lazy days should be replaced with something less judgmental and shaming. Moodling fits the bill perfectly! Thanks for mentioning the word so I can add it to my dictionary. 😉
I agree summer does inspire laziness and overall enjoyment of life. I long for the days when I can sit outside at the patio table (under the umbrella for the most part) and put my feet up on the opposite chair while I read a book and sip at iced tea or whatever. I am not sure but maybe it is because most people think of summer hooked with other words like vacations or holidays.
You’re welcome, Susan! Thanks for the compliment!
I could use more of this in my life!
I am pretty sure moodling deficiency is a world-wide epidemic, Sarah. We have forgotten how to do this. I am sure Choppy and Schooner can help show you the way!
Love this new word: Moodling!!! I love how it sounds and what is means!
It is my new favourite way to describe what we could all do more of …. and I love the reframing, away from the negative, judgemental words we typically use.
Glad you like it, Ju-Lyn!
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