The joy of doing nothing
I’ve realized that I really hate doing stuff. I can usually handle one “touristy” thing a day: a tour, a museum, a historical site. After that, I’d rather just do a whole lot of nothing–in the best possible way.
I’m starting to learn that doing nothing can sometimes be a good thing, a way to passively soak up the culture that surrounds us. The Italians even have a term for it: il dolce far niente. The sweetness of doing nothing–isn’t that just as far from Western hustle and bustle as you can get?!
The things that we often classify as not being “something” enough are valuable in themselves: it’s what locals do all the time without a second thought. Doing nothing is often just living, and enjoying it–and isn’t that better than sightseeing?
- Browse a bookstore: Read the backs of fiction books. Flip through a travel guide. Drool over cookbooks with pictures. Take a seat in a big comfy chair. I get all my books from the library, but that doesn’t stop me from stopping in every bookstore I pass.
- Sit at a café: Bonus points if there’s a spare newspaper or magazine lying around. Sip a latte. Make friends with the waiter. Sip another latte. Order some food, if only to keep the table. Enjoy your food, completely.
- People watch: On a bench. On the beach. In a park. On a café terrace. In a pub’s courtyard. On the tram. On a busy street corner.
- Soak up the sunshine. Read a book. Take off your shoes and take a nap. Get a tan. Put on some sunscreen. Watch the clouds roll by.
- Watch the sun set. Watch the sun rise.
- Wander: Through alley ways. Through cemeteries. Through open-air markets. Look for street art. Look for hidden passageways. Look for courtyards. Don’t take public transportation. Don’t take taxis.
What’s your favorite way to do nothing?
