Nothing

It isn't easy to do "nothing". Sunbathing on a tropical beach may involve hours without motion, but you're still actively doing something. You're sunbathing and resting. The time you're putting in is part of a plan to achieve an end.

To really do nothing is a terrible thing. Totally different from "having nothing you have to do". Having nothing that needs doing is liberating, restful, and a time to choose. Because whenever there is nothing that needs doing there are still things that could be done. There are always things that could be done, and usually when faced with doing nothing, the could-be-done things finally get some attention.

When you're really doing nothing, there are still things that need to get done, and things that could be getting done. But these things don't get done.

And once you really get going with nothing, it's hard to stop. Or is that start? Either way, it's hard to change. After all, name the greatest activity you can think of, then ask "what could be better than that?" Nothing? Exactly. Nothing can always seem better. Although it never is.

Personally, I've had enough of nothing. I've re-re-started the job hunt. I've re-re-started attending karate and exercising nearly every day.

It all goes to proving one thing to me. What's better than nothing? Anything!

Guest Blogging

I first met my friend Todd at a whiskey tasting competition. Since then, I suspect we've had lots of deep and interesting conversations, although I can't actually recall any of them.

Todd has quite a set of stories. He's lived in Amsterdam almost as long as I have, is retired from the U.S. Army and has an extra impressive tale about walking away from his wheelchair. Most of these stories, and a few others, have been detailed in his blog Waking Up In Amsterdam.

Alas, Todd is on his way home to America. Soon he'll be waking up in Seattle. But while he's gone I'll help out with occassional content from here.

Today I made my first guest post on his blog.