Nothing Doing Like Doing Nothing

St. George Island is a four-mile island located on the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee and Apalachicola. During World War II, the island was used by troops for training exercises that were carried out over the area's vast dunes. I don't imagine a whole lot has changed since that time. The only things here are beach houses, a couple of stores and restaurants, and some boating outfitters.

Needless to say, life is pretty quiet here -- it's clear this is the place to come when you want a break from life. Here, you buy fresh caught shrimp from a roadside truck and you take cool showers outside. Time is spent riding old-fashioned bicycles with baskets into town. In the evenings, you'll probably find yourself sitting peacefully on an old front-porch swing. The pace is slow and refreshing -- nothing fancy.

There is a lot of wisdom born out of doing nothing. The revelations discovered in stillness can be staggering, as I have learned this week. There is a book called The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself by Veronique Vienne. Being a person who rarely sits idle, and who is, in fact, quite well versed in multitasking, this is not a book I have read yet. But now, I think I must!

Remember when you were a kid and you would tell you parents that you were bored? "I'M BOOOOOOOOORED!" Sound familiar? I know I said that a time or two and my parents' reply was always, “Find something to do!” Maybe it is just ingrained now, but I rarely have that problem these days. Nowadays, it's the opposite problem. I would really like to change saying to “Find NOTHING to do.” And so this week that is exactly what I did.

Well, sorta. In doing "NOTHING," "SOMETHING" is created -- one makes the space for new things to grow. I have learned that doing nothing is not synonymous with "wasting time." While I did spend the week in this desolate place where Internet connections are difficult to come by, and cell phones don't get strong signals, I was able to accomplish some important things. Here is what I did on my summer vacation:

I had a week-long ongoing conversation with God. I made some decisions about my personal life that were long overdue. I came away with a clear understanding of what I need to do to take my business to the next level. I prayed for my clients and my colleagues at a deep level. I gave thanks to be a part of such a distinguished group of people as coaches are. I prepared for a tremendous 18-month opportunity/challenge (These are one and the same, right?) that I have taken on.

I spent quality time with my children. Seeing the rate they are maturing made me realize that vacations like this are going to be fewer and farther between. I taught them how to play card games. We watched movies on a rainy day. They enjoyed each others company and spent time reconnecting in a way that we seem to miss in the busyness of our everyday life. It was truly rewarding and the best investment I have made in a long time.

When I was thinking about this article I didn't just want to send a virtual postcard about my vacation time. I want to remind each of you that every day brings opportunities to just do nothing. And in doing nothing, many wonderful things can come. While we may not have a week very often, we do have a lunch hour, time before bed or when we get up early. Spend the time wisely and think of these windows of time as “mini-vacations." Schedule them in your day and on your calendar and then keep that appointment with yourself.

Maybe doing nothing can be your most productive time of all. I encourage you to give yourself permission to let go of “what you do” and just be “who you are” in the quiet moments. Give yourself the gift of doing nothing. Set aside the time for introspection. I promise it's one of the best gifts you'll ever receive. Enjoy the solace!

My Wish For You