Il Dolce Far Niente (The Sweet Doing of Nothing)

"Our culture aids and abets us with the expectation promoted by the information and communications industry that more information is always better and always potentially available. Therefore, we must always be available to receive any such piece of information that is sent, solicited or not. If we succumb to this illusion, we cooperate in maintaining a persistent dividedness of mind and heart. We deaden and numb our feelings, we fail to ask the deeper more essential questions. We are so busy sending and receiving fragments of information that we can increase our tolerance for violence, escalate our consumerism, and impair our compassion."
--Janet Ruffing,"Resisting the Demon of Busyness," Spiritual Life, Summer 1995.

I have an internal alarm bell that goes off when I am too busy being busy to pay attention to the important things. What trips the alarm is my driving. When I honk at a driver who cuts off my forward progress, as I did on Sunday, then I know I am trying to go too fast, do too much, push past the pace that's comfortable for me.

This spring with all its busyness and planning has fragmented my attention. I need a little break from the inspiring but constant flow of information and entertainment--blogging, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, ipod, etc.--to create a few more small spaces in my life for quiet contemplation, for the sweet doing of nothing.

Have a Happy May!

Growth Rings

I am so thrilled that Jackie, paper artisan and photographer--and true friend of my heart--just opened up an Etsy shop, smoothpebble studio, to share her papercuts. Jackie's papercuts were what inspired me to try my hand at the difficult craft, where finding that sweet spot of just the right pressure on the paper is the elusive goal. When you reach that point, it's all bliss and flow, and Jackie's certainly there. It's been exciting to see Jackie's own patterns emerge. She's uploaded a great selection of her papercuts to her Flickr Papercut/paper gallery, which is so inspiring.

Jackie snuck in the opening of her Etsy shop while I was away at Easter, but when I returned I immediately snapped up this tree ring snip that I had admired on her blog. Her careful cuts reveal the heart of the tree, its growth moving outward like ripples from its core. Those rings tell the story of the good years and bad, a layering of wet years interwoven with drought, when growth shows up as a thinner line. Those rings give the tree its strength, a core that is shells within shells within shells packed so tightly around themselves that the resulting strong, upright trunk holds in even its branches thrashing in the wind.

The papercut speaks to me of the parallel path of personal growth that Jackie and I have been on since we both started our blogs. Jackie's post, Self Love, expresses her search for authenticity and self-acceptance with her unique blend of honesty, grace, and humor.

In addition the growth rings snip, I have the honor of having Jackie's book, For the Beauty of the Earth, as my daily meditation on nature's patterns. The photographs are little epiphanies, wordless tributes to color, pattern, and, truly, the joy of life's unfolding. Watch the slideshow of Jackie's 365::2009 photographs, and you'll see what I mean.

Be sure to pay Jackie a visit to congratulate her on the shop opening. Tell her a little birdie says hello.