The little porcupine held a bough between her forearms and down between her legs. She shuffled about appearing to sweep the forest floor. She was young, no more than a year old. The forest floor didn’t need sweeping. She wasn’t sweeping. She was playing. Her play was as pointless and as fun as the play of children of every species.
She kept at it for a half hour or more, dropping her bough only when distracted by two squirrels in a chattering argument that had nothing to do with her. Beams of bright sun poured through the canopy. Except for the squirrels,
all was still and silent. A soft breeze wafted sweet smells
of pine and azalea.
The quiet burbling of a nearby brook completed
the idyllic scene.
Isn’t idyllic a pleasant word? It sounds as calm and as pleasant as the world it describes. Sadly, idyllic worlds are few and far between. It wasn’t always so. Life in long centuries past was less inclined to hustle and hurry. Now, even everyday tasks are made urgent and wearisome.
Whatever for? Is such rushing about so necessary?
Children rarely hurry anything. They spend most
of their time in idle play. Children attend to what pleases them. Adults can’t do that. They have responsibilities, though those responsibilities needn’t be compounded
by idle worry.
Actions matter, worry doesn’t. Calm attention
to getting things done gets more done than speeding around in a tizzy. Steady-and-sure is the best antidote to frenzy. Thoughtful planning will free-up time to do what childishly pleases you. I’m in favor of childish pleasure. It’s too important to be left only to children.
Every day should be balanced between what needs to be done and what you enjoy doing. Idyllic days happen when duty is balanced with pleasure. The drudge is only half alive. Idle play allows the other half to live.
Full humanity requires the balance.
“Oh I’m much too busy for that . . . you have no idea . . .” Yes I do. I look around and see a whole lot of foolish wheel-spinning on efforts that aren’t worth the effort. So many things we think need doing aren’t worth doing at all.
Maybe we’re too busy to notice.
That’s overly generalized, but mostly true.
Days of idyllic calm are within reach of nearly anyone. No kidding. First you have to want it, then you have to plan for it. As Simon & Garfunkel sang, “Slow down, you move too fast, got to make the morning last, feeling groooooovy”.
Ask the little porcupine what she thinks.