On a bright sunny afternoon, a middle-aged farmer is lying on a hammock under the tree swaying in the breeze. A young city traveller walks up to him and starts a conversation. He learns that the farmer has large acres of fertile land with few crops growing on them. “Why don't you put it to better use? Grow sugarcane, vanilla and pepper — they sell for a higher price,” advises the youngster. 

“Then what?” asks the farmer. “You can then make more money, build a bigger and better house to live in,” replies the youngster. “Then what?” asks the farmer, unfazed by the idea. “You can put away money in the bank and secure your future.” “Then what?” asks the farmer. The youngster is frustrated and says: “Then…you can sit back, relax and enjoy life.” “What do you think I'm doing right now?” asks the farmer without batting an eyelid. 

Doing nothing is not everybody's cup of tea. I envy those who can effortlessly put aside for later the restlessness that's inherent to life's rat race. 

Enjoying a hot cup of coffee without thinking of anything else does not come easily to most of us. It's also not easy to sit back and simply watch the leaves slowly fall to the ground. 

I have friends who “people watch” on weekends at the busiest city malls. It's their “doing nothing” time when they shed any baggage of anxiety to 'just be' as the world passes them by. 

 It is, without doubt, highly therapeutic. But 'just being and not doing' is a huge challenge, and sometimes discomforting too. We live in times when our planners are crammed with engagements that can ease only if a few more hours are added to the day. Doing nothing, therefore, is a luxury few of us can afford. 

It's up to us to find those 'empty' moments in the day that can lift the pressure off the busyness of daily life. Find it in the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock, the drive on an empty road, in a tub of popcorn at the movies, listening to the same song over and over while waiting in a slow-moving queue at the airport; or even in the middle of all the chaos at the workplace. 

 By simply being in these precious moments and not frantically looking to fill it up with another layer of thought or action, we live, truly. Go on, gift yourself a few empty pages in your planner so you can just be.

Sumaa Tekur/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication