I'm not sure why I have such an issue with rest. The pastoral scene of napping in a hammock is like a horror flick to me. It's not that I'm always moving (I spent quite a bit of time writing or knitting), but I am always doing.

That's fine when your kids are little, because there is a whole lot of doing in the caretaking of small children. However, now that my kids are bigger, I'm pretty sure that my attitude toward rest could grow up as well.

Constant doing is like a no fat diet; because there’s not a lot of sensory experience, you never feel full or satiated. If you never take notice of what you’re doing, you will never feel like you’ve accomplished anything.

And what’s so great about doing, anyway; does a full life require a completely checked list? The old adage, "Stop and smell the roses” applies to a lot more than just gardens: “Stop and hug the kid”, “Stop and look at the bayou on a perfect crisp morning,” or "Stop and taste the latte” are just as important. When was the last time you actually noticed the nuance in your morning beverage?

Stopping to notice what you're experiencing as it happens is, I believe, the secret to a joyful life. I've talked a lot about connection and investing in people instead of stuff; this noticing is the foundation to all of that. If you stop doing long enough to notice what's around you, and who is around you, you can connect more effectively.

When you stop and listen to someone, they feel heard and valued. Whether it's your children or a stranger at the gas station, noticing and Un-doing can change your life and boost your creativity!

Creativity lives in simple, joyful places; it will not be marshaled. You can say to yourself, “Okay, enough messing around! You will sit and create, right now, dammit!” Yeah, right. Your creativity will dry up and wither at this sort of directive, and you will be stuck with frustration and a blank page, both figuratively and literally.

If, however, you notice all the things going on around you, then you will foster a connection to the universal force of love and appreciation.

For me, right now, this noticing looks like: the light sparkling on the water, the way the birds hover and dive in a kind of dance, the lilt of my daughter’s giggle, the warmth of a big guy hug, and the way my Goldendoodle looks at me as if I have the answers to all his burning questions.

From that place of curious wonder, your creativity will fill you to capacity and beyond. With this level of creativity, you can “do” whatever you want: problem solve or puzzle-crack a thorny issue at work, decipher a better path through your ToDo list, write a book, play pretend with your little one, publish a blog post, or just take a nap. It's up to you. You are in charge of your own creative un-doing. I can't wait to see where it takes you!

XO
Terri

Drop me a line at HERE  and let me know what you’re un-doing today :)