Intervals of Leisure

I just returned from a trip to Cuba. It was a wonderful week, spent with my intrepid mom. We had trips to Havana and Trinidad and water falls and museums, and we had many "intervals of leisure" (Eva Hoffman, author of How to be Bored.

I came home extremely rested. Initially, I attributed it to having a chance to slow down, without kids, to swim and read. However, shortly after my return, I heard this interview with Eva Hoffman,
Finding meaning in doing nothing, on Spark, CBC. She talks about the importance of reserving "intervals of leisure" unconnected to email/devises to reflect and be introspective. "The value of an experience can increase" when we are not bombarded by electronic stimulus, allowing us to "dip into our memories and make connections" and this was the beauty of my time in Cuba.

Now, a few days and several emails and instagram posts later, I do notice a difference. My extremely rested brain was previously so dehydrated by scrolling that it failed to be as curious and alert as it could be.

Cuba, if you didn't know, is a very good place to disconnect because no matter how much you might want to check email or messages, it is extremely difficult to do so. It is available, but expensive and limited. Perfect conditions for rehydrating my thirst for questions instead of feeding the hunger for never ending answers.

Comments

Writing it out.

Since 2020, I have written the following: -grandiose grocery lists (written on an empty stomach) that often end up getlting left behind at home -funding proposals -delicately worded emails -harried Whatsapp messages -a slew of facebook messages (that basically kept me alive) -a tinder profile or two... -utilitarian text messages -heart felt text messages -the very occasional love note (on paper) to a friend or a loved one The things I have not written since 2020: -a journal -a multi-page handwritten letter -a play -a sketch -a novel -more than 2-3 blog posts that I didn't even publish -a pros and cons list

Playing School

Proper Cry

Photo Source: thesetingstaketime.com via Stephanie on Pinterest I love to laugh. I love laughing so hard I lose control. I love that release. For this reason and lots of others, I could not wait to see the blockbuster, Bridesmaids last summer. Everyone told me, "you are going to pee yourself. It is so FUNNY." And yes, I almost did pee myself, but I also cried through almost the entire last half of the movie. I did not laugh so hard I cried, I just plain sobbed. I felt really sad watching the story of two friends come to terms with how their friendship was changing. I was really surprised by my reaction after all the hype about how hilarious the movie was, but I knew why. The brilliance of this movie was how life can be so hilarious and painful at the same time. Yesterday, I was on a social networking site and one of the people I follow mentioned that she cried "proper tears" upon reading a story about a woman's tragic childhoo

Growing Versions

Search This Blog