On Saturday morning, I told Reggie Black about my busy weekends in Maine.  I told him how tiring it was to race back and forth and how I looked forward to moving home.  I said “I just want to be still and peaceful.”

His response was interesting.

“Can you sleep out in the barn?  Why not?  Life’s too short, do nothing.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, so I asked for clarification.

“Just that.  You want to relax, just do it.  Sit out in the barn and read a book.  Cook some eggs on an open fire or a camp stove.  Make some coffee or tea.  Drink the clean water.  Walk around when you feel like it.  Sleep in a bag or sling a hammock.”

I couldn’t help but giggle a little bit at Reggie’s suggestions, wondering what Uncle Bob would say if he found me sleeping in a hammock upstairs in the barn.

“It would make good blog content,” I responded.

“I don’t think you can do it.  You have to be ‘busy’ doing something all the time.”

Ouch.

Reggie’s right.  I am always busy.  Even on days when I try to rest, I find things to do.

I considered creating a “Reggie Black Summertime Relaxation Challenge,” but just doing so would defeat the purpose of “doing nothing.”  It would give me an excuse to busily plan, plot, and market my relaxation challenge.

I did nothing for a whole hour one afternoon.  It was magical, with sunbeams shooting out of the sky and all that.

Being busy isn’t a bad thing, is it?

Oh, Reggie, you’re fantastic, but…I’ve gotta run!