Why You Should Say 'OK F**k It I'm Doing Nothing Today'
Wise words from David Hockney and Marina Abramovic
This is my last post until the beginning of October. I'm moving into a 'recharge the batteries' zone and I want to share with you a couple of things that I watched and read this week that have inspired me:
Firstly, this 3-minute video of the British artist David Hockney talking about how we should focus on looking around us to find the beauty in the world. And also, heavens, can we take a moment for Hockney's style? I want to look that good when I'm 85:
Secondly, some wise words from the performance artist Marina Abramovic, whose artwork The Hero I talked about last week. In a recent interview in Frieze magazine she advocated for doing nothing. I'm fully onboard, and I'm wondering how I can rewire my brain to make time for it. She says:
"We have all become far too busy and preoccupied with life. There are so many emails and news alerts. Sometimes you just have to say 'Okay fuck it, I'm doing nothing today' and that's fine. In fact, that's great. Why? Because life opens itself up to you in ways that one can't possibly imagine when you are doing nothing. This is the greatest medium of them all. When I was doing nothing, I dreamt up some of my most important ideas. I strongly recommend everyone reading this to do nothing today."
As always I'd love to know your thoughts on this, and if you decide to do nothing today let me know what great things happen...
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Great post, thanks. David Hockney! 😍 I am working on the doing nothing. My work as a freelance translator has slowed this summer but I’ve often found myself semi-working at my desk, slowly, and mainly faffing. I think it’s because I’m not used to the lack of pressing deadlines. Frustrating as I think I could be working more efficiently then have more proper time off. Work in progress!
Yes, doing nothing is essential to creativity. No less a sage than Bertrand Russell sang its praises in 'In Praise of Idleness', where he writes: 'If you ask an actual worker what is the best part of his life, he is not likely to say 'I enjoy manual work because it makes me feel that I am fulfilling man's noblest task, and because I like to think how much man can transform his planet.... I am never so happy as when the morning comes and I can return to the toil from which my contentment springs.' I have never heard working men say this sort of thing....' https://kamprint.com/views/workathome/