Tuesday, May 24, 2005

A definition of wasting time

“I have no patience with boring people, anymore,” Elaine said. We were having hot chocolate at La Noisette, probably the last hot chocolate of the season. Paris is supposed to have temperatures in the 30°s centigrade, the beginning of a heat wave.

We had been talking about how lucky we were to be able arrange our schedules that did not include eight+ hours in an office dealing with stupid politics and sometimes stupider bosses, although both of us have had positive work experiences.

“I sometimes like to sit here, just reading, or even watching people going by, although some people would think that is wasting time,” I said.

Before she could respond, a four-year old girl with a pony tail and bangs/fringe (depending if we’re using my American term or Elaine’s English one) came up. She explained to us how she was putting the feather she found in the planter because if the bird came to look it, she would have a better chance to find it against the bright flowers than the grey pavement.

When the child moved on Elaine said, “Doing nothing is not wasting time. That’s feeding your soul. Wasting time is doing what you don’t want to do.”

I have to agree with her. It is the difference between feeding and draining your soul.

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