Reasons I Retired and What's Happening Now

Reason 96: Nothing

On June 7 of 2024, I cited “doing nothing” as reason 96 for retiring. It was a nice idea, wasn’t it?

Life, however, has a way of intervening with our plans and it’s taken almost ten months for me to find a space in which I could do literally NOTHING. My father’s death in June meant several out-of-town trips; my daughter’s lengthy illness over the summer months, including three hospitalizations, meant helping her and my son-in-law. My son’s illness in October, also with a two-week hospitalization, required some support from me as he recovered. Then, of course, the holidays descended, and in early January my heater died. In an act of pure insanity, I signed up for a three-month writing course. So, not much time for La Dolce far Niente, the "sweetness of doing nothing".

Life has finally slowed down a bit! I’ve signed up for another 3-month writing course that starts in May, so for April I can take walks, read novels, and knit to my heart’s content. My post from June 7 had some information about the default mode network (DMN) in our brains and how activities that do not require maximum concentration allow us to create, problem-solve, and improve our self-efficacy. Pretty, isn’t it?

Knitting in particular is good for the “resting” part of the brain. It can help increase fine motor skills and lower the chance of cognitive impairment. The act of creation can be immensely satisfying! There is also the rhymithic quality of clicking needles that is meditative and soothing. Perhaps members of our current government would benefit from taking up needles and yarn.

I may not solve all the problems of the world by doing “nothing”, but after so many years of doing “everything”, I no longer feel it necessary. I can just take a breath and value the moment.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice in be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

What’s your favorite “no brain” activity? Does spending time in “no brainers” help you relax?

Hi, Readers, I’d like to ask a quick favor. If you’ve enjoyed this post, maybe even learned something from it, would you consider sharing it on your own social media or email or even restacking it here on Substack? I’d appreciate it as I try to spread the realities of adult autism and widowhood!