Our economic set up puts us on a state of continuous busyness. The never dying "no work, no pay" rule. Most of the time, it feels like doing nothing is a sin. 

To do list:

-Work

-Overtime

-Grave yard shift

-Assignment

-Project

-Quizzes

-Household Chores

-the list goes on

The list on the left seems like a typical to do list of Filipino everyday, and working to finish all that are in the list should be non-stop or else you fail, or you get yelled at by your boss, or you get hungry, etc.

Luckily, Italians had already a name for the answer: Dolce Far Niente- the sweetness of doing nothing. 

Personally, the sweetness of doing nothing is not in my consciousness for the longest time.

But then I realized that doing nothing is not bad at all. It's like a rest in a musical staff. Without it, the combination of notes would just be a noise. So yeah, doing nothing sometimes is not bad at all, but it adds beauty to your piece. Your life.

I realized that I should learn how to play the rests and the notes. I had to find the balance between them in order to produce melodious and harmonious music. Especially in our culture where doing is more valued than being, and the adage, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” blinks in your brain like a neon sign—where you’re taught to believe that the more you do, the greater your worth. But its not. 

And so I decided that when stress hunt me down, and its too much, I will take a flight to my sweet spot where I can savor the sweetness of doing nothing. Not because I am too lazy or burnt out from it, but because just like our metaphor- in music, timing is the key. It is not always loud, nor silent. It should be a combination of both. 

It is in the sweet nothings that my mind is open and clear, where actions are reflectively balanced and not impulsive. My heart, lungs, and muscles were loosen up and are in tranquility. And so reaching the perfect state to make a sound decision that will result to a greater outcome.

I realized that in life it is not always "do or die," "rest then go" is also an option. Self care is still a value and it helps me keep myself composed and mentally healthy. 

So every time stress hunts me down, I will find my sweet spot and seek for the sweetness of doing nothing.