“I learned … that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into you slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.”
~ Brenda Ueland, journalist

It’s so hard to find a little solitude and idleness.  When I do create that for myself, I spend the first part of it ranting and raging and feeling confused and irresponsible and unsure just what the hell I’m doing here.

And I know for certain that inspiration doesn’t strike when I’m buried deep in the hard churn of Good Work, when I’m focused on productivity and efficiency and making sure I’m Getting Stuff Done.

It’s strange to think that one of the ways to find inspiration is to step into the insolent uncertainly of solitude and idleness, but I think it’s true.

And I suspect it won’t happen, at least not often, by chance.

You have to go and find it.

How will you find – then hold and protect – the space of idleness?  The place for inspiration?

I don’t think necessity is the mother of invention – invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.
~ Agatha Christie

What a fantastic quote.  Long live laziness!  Embrace idleness!

Come on – you know, I know, we all know that we’re all working too hard.  (I am, at any rate).

As if busy-ness was something to be proud of.  I ask you:  what a dubious badge of honour THAT is!

=> What would you stop doing if you had to stop being Busy?

=> How is being busy keeping you safe?  Keeping you small?  Keeping you doing Good Work not Great Work?

=> What’s the easiest thing you could do right now?

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