THE LLLI ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION ContinuumVOL. 16, NO. 2 · 2003 Life too busy? It sure feels Find some negative space for positive renewal that way. And most every- one reports the same: o nothing, nothing, nothing more.” even makes it on the list—is “important, but “I’m overwhelmed.” “There’s This“D is a sign my colleague and I printed out not urgent.” In fact, with a never-ending list just too much to do.” “How and tacked up on our office wall at some point of things to do, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s can the days be flying by so last year. I stuck a copy on the first page of my important—really important—to me. When day planner too. Of course I bypass the wise I’m doing too much, time for reflection gets quickly?” “I never have any counsel more days than not. (Just today I agreed lost. I know I need to get back in balance— time to relax!” to teach a course—“just two and a half hours, and one good way is by doing nothing. Sound familiar? Chances just one night a week, just six weeks long, just It’s hard! How does life get so busy and another six for the advanced section...”) But I complicated? It just does. Mom, wife, daughter, are, you’ve made some of am beginning to make more conscious choices sibling, worker, volunteer, citizen—each role these comments yourself. to purposefully do less. requires an investment of time. So many It’s hard! My first empty-nest year just flew demands from the “outside,” yet the inside calls by. The year I thought there would be plenty of person Whatever the season, the too. The that I am—my primary role— time. Yet it always felt like there was also has need for nourishment. events ahead, the stages of no time. Looking back, there was Do nothing, nothing, nothing your children or grands, the sufficient time to pack in a thou- Do nothing. more. work you do, the joys or sand things. But how do you fit in It’s hard! What does “doing nothing? nothing” look like? I’m reminded challenges you face, STOP. It’s hard! So many things I Nothing. of my youngest daughter’s Take a deep breath. Close want to do pull and tug at me. responses to her friends’ tele- Nothing. your eyes. Count your (Even things I don’t want to do vie phone queries: “What are you for attention…) I want to spend my doing?” “Nothing,” she’d reply, blessings. Put your feet up. time with family and friends. I want Nothing more. even though from my perspec- Take a minute, an hour, a to get my body healthier, read good tive, she and I were just having a day, a week, a month, a books, de-junk my old house. I great conversation. My oldest— want to plant more flowers, travel, listen to good struggling to define her dissertation topic—has year. Relax, rejuvenate, music, learn how to sail. I want to save the world! her own take on doing nothing: “it’s highly restore, renew. I want to do nothing. productive and—if you’re doing it right—very On the whole, a rather self-centered list. time consuming…” One that gives me pause. Clearly, my “giving” For me, I’m learning that to do nothing cup is just about empty. When I mentioned this means no brain engagement. It doesn’t mean list to a friend, she reminded me of the impor- the escape of MaJong solitaire on the computer tance of the earth laying fallow a period of time or the complex “paint by numbers” puzzles that for restoration. Do nothing. Do nothing. have lately caught my fancy. It doesn’t mean It’s hard! Guilty “I shoulds” constantly reading a magazine or watching television. It’s creep in. My “to do” lists at home, at work, and simply—though not always so simple—letting for La Leche seem unending. I cross items off everything float away. and add twice as many more. I think about Until recently, doing nothing wasn’t even Steven Covey’s (The Seven Habits of Highly a consideration. It certainly never made its way Effective People) “important/urgent” grid and on to any of my “to do” lists. Now, it is at the know that too much that gets done from those very top. lists falls in the “urgent, but not important” quadrant; too much that gets left out—or never Sue Christensen, Indiana USA Continuum Rejuvenation through sensual walking The gentle art of T’ai Chi brings lifelong benefits ome join me on my daily walk! ChangeC into comfortable clothes, get riginally, I was attracted to your sunglasses, and a billed cap. Lace The smell of the grass, MartialO Arts because I had observed the up your shoes, put on your sunscreen, poise and self confidence that some of and let’s go! Can you smell my neighbor songs of new birds, the practitioners exhibited. About four Shirley’s honeysuckle bush? Do you hear years ago, after a lot of research, I the robins and the mourning doves in and the gusting of the wind decided to take T’ai Chi lessons. Marty’s pine trees? Can you see the Modern T’ai Chi was developed in quail family with ten tiny striped chicks are sensual sirens for me the mid 1800s. It is, however, based on whirring across our cul-de-sac to dive Taoist principles which date from 500 into Denny’s hedge? B.C. The principal idea in Taoism and I’m an avid walker. I prefer an exercise takes on new wrinkles. Almost T’ai Chi is Yin and Yang (hot/cold, unencumbered style with no cell phone, every summer night I walk throughout man/woman, water/fire) and as a martial no watch, no ankle weights, and no our neighborhood with my husband. In art, the idea of yielding and softness. headphones. Sensual walking is what I other places I’ve lived, I’ve had regular T’ai Chi incorporates Taoist Chi Gung, need for true rejuvenation. walks with friends. These “walk and Nie Gung and martial arts, such as talk” exercises require a different Shaolin Kung Fu. On a solo walk, I often plan to think concentration but also provide a T’ai Chi abounds with stories of its about something. I might start my first different payoff in the give and take of benefits. T’ai Chi masters purportedly lap around Willow Creek Park thinking listening and talking, problem solving, live healthy, active long lives. T’ai Chi about La Leche League work. Then and reconnecting. masters are capable of immense displays perhaps start my second lap contemplat- I am now preparing for a family of power with seemingly little effort. ing family issues, but often by then I’ve backpack in Idaho’s Sawtooth Moun- Doctors send patients to our classes for moved on to whatever subjects I seem tains. The training walk requires help with arthritis, flexibility, strength to need to think about, then on to encumbrances like a loaded pack, more and balance. Personal benefits have reverie, the dream state. I often lose hills and steps, and extra workout time. been increased flexibility, strong legs, track of what lap I’m on. However, the basic components of balance, and better hand-eye coordina- I am not only in my mind when I walking rejuvenation are still there. I’m tion (my guitar playing improved). My walk. A copse of four gorgeous willow still in my head, my senses are all alert, friends have remarked about my poise trees at one end of the park gives me and I get to add the sensual sweetness of and balance. great pleasure as they change through- getting stronger. T’ai Chi in its most rudimentary out the seasons. I watch the progress on Rejuvenation activities are not idle form could be called “Moving medita- a neighbor’s garden project, the con- or lazy, and walking is certainly not tion.” As a beginner, the practitioner struction of a nearby Alzheimer’s care passive. It can involve planning, can experience rejuvenation after five unit, or the obedience work of some purpose, and sweat. But it is also what it minutes of T’ai Chi. It is a holistic frisky puppies. There are also tennis needs to be. There are many things to practice that can be learned at greater players, children at the playground, and keep me indoors: I enjoy reading, depths throughout one’s life. soccer players. I often pick up trash, handwritten and computer correspon- knowing my stewardship of the path- dence, sketching, baking, and hand Larry Kelly, Texas USA ways and grass of the park is an impor- sewing. But the smell of the grass, songs tant part of connecting with my neigh- of new birds, and the gusting of the Ed note—Larry is the husband of LLL borhood. Sometimes I detour to drop off wind are sensual sirens for me. Walking Leader and Texas ACL Edna Kelly. He items at the cleaners and or pick up one keeps me engaged with my inner life, graciously led T’ai Chi sessions as part of manageable sack of groceries at the opens up my senses, and keeps me the LLLI Alumnae Conference rejuvena- nearby market. young. tion activities this past summer. When you walk with others, the —Kathy Grossman, Utah USA 2 THE LLLI ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION Continuum Want to relax, rejuvenate? Here are some essentials hat three things would you want Cross-stitch, a good movie, quiet time Yoga mat, relaxation cassette tape, and a toW have on hand in order to relax or with a book in a comfy place… quiet house… rejuvenate? That was the question posed —Kathie Zettervall, Virginia USA —Nina Robertson, Scotland to LLL Alums and other Leaders recently.