The Fine and Lost Art
of
Doing Nothing

Zen, sitting and staring, the world being too much with us and similar expressions address our human tendency to keep busy. Even when we are just sitting around our minds are usually spinning. Ideas, worries and the like constantly bombard our serenity, so we do something to "keep our minds off" everything else.

Some sit in meditation, some whittle or do some hobby, and some of us just float for a while with our paddles at rest. All this busy busy stuff has invaded my life. I teach at the college and, just as soon as the last class is over, my mind is already planning and worrying about getting the next lecture or exam finished. This constant thinking has even invaded my sacred realm of paddling.

It has shown up in the past few postings as I ponder paddle length, the perfect boat and improperly dressed recreational paddlers. Enough. What happened to the just-paddle-because-it's-fun idea? I lost it somewhere along the line, and now it is time to get it back before the summer goes by without a good dose of kayak-karma. With this in mind, I am looking forward to the up coming Memorial Day weekend.

I was to staff the Western Michigan Symposium, but asked to be excused (and was graciously told I was). I want to be hereat home when my two daughters are here with my two grand children. I want to relax with them, spoil the kids and get in a fun paddle. It's been a while, but JB and I will be getting out together this Sunday (weather permitting). It's been too long since I've floated with my friend and mentor, and I've missed it.

So, no heavy points to be made, just plans to be and to paddle.

Paddle safe...
DS