Leisure

Lounging, idling, loafing… so many words to describe the state of idleness or rather the epitome of leisure in its purest form. I am an active proponent of lounging- sitting and staring at objects of no or higher levels of consequence is my favorite pastime (I normally isolate myself when I crave for wall-staring, somehow people aren’t accommodative to its nuances yet). With psychologists and behavioral analysts extolling the virtues of a balanced work-life through the use of rejuvenating activities such as meditation and yogic breathing- idling is the cheapest and the easiest ways to achieve those benefits without having to focus on anything at all!!!

Allow me to elaborate: choose a sunny part of your room or work-space (preferably one with happy memories) and sit in any position you please. Stare at the wall or any other object you feel like focusing your gaze on. Don’t think about your work or problems: just let your mind wander- a lot of thoughts are apt to hit you at this point (particularly nagging stuff like did I finish the cross-word or some other activity-oriented pastime : these are the main killers that deter people from attaining the full pleasure of an idling hour). Let the thoughts leave, watch them, enjoy them but do not react to their substance- this is the most difficult phase in the entire process and takes a while to master. Once this technique has been assimilated there’s pretty much nothing left to do…

Let your thoughts flow while keeping your vision and hearing unoccupied i.e. focused on nothing in particular or staring dumbly at an inanimate object (you’d be surprised how fast your brain’s apt to jump topics and subjects in this state despite your iron clad will to keep it empty!!!). If you’ve survived till this, its likely that your conscious has been reduced to a semi-soporific state where your subconscious takes you through the corridors of your memory and you savour the scents and flavours of seasons gone by- That, my dear, patient reader is the best part of lounging. You’ll recall friends and acquaintances, instances and events you swore you’d forgotten, pranks punished for but never played etc. come unbidden to the empty mind. Surf them for as long as you please and when you come out you’ll feel refreshed!!!

(there’s always the chance that the memories that surface may not be the happiest but rather the worst of your life: in those times just remember this – it can happen only once, the next time its like been there survived that…)

So, the next time you catch a person staring blindly into a wall window or even your face, please do not misconstrue their intentions but rather join them to rediscover what your mind still holds from your meandering past and relish those times once again (If undertaken in the office kindly hold a half-filled cup of coffee just in case your boss is at hand). I’ll end this soliloquy with a befitting verse by William Henry Davies

“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.”