The Art of Work and Play Revisited

It’s a sunny day here in Toronto. A hot and humid summer day. I don’t want to complain and say it’s “unbearable” because soon enough it’ll be December and we’ll all be complaining about how daftly cold it is. Despite the heat warning issued by Environment Canada, I’m doing my best to enjoy the day, to simply, as Corita Kent advised, “Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.”

Loving the moment, I am listening to my body and letting myself rest. Too often, between the demands of my day job and my ruthless pursuit of my writing dream, I end up exhausted. I like to believe, and then act as if I am the Energizer Bunny — that I can keep going and going and going. But I’m not the Energizer Bunny, and there are days when I simply need to rest. Especially on days like today when it feels like 35°C (95°F) outside.

I am forever learning the art of work and play. Life is rich with all its beauty and with so many things to discover. Writing is very important to me, to my life, and each day I write I am inching closer to realizing my dreams. But life isn’t, and shouldn’t be, all about writing or painting or making music. When I open myself up to other experiences, when I let myself do other activities, I am gathering material for my creative stores.

After a couple of days of rest (away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto), I came back refreshed to work on a short story and added a new twist. Resting, I ticked off another recipe on my culinary bucket list, “Beer Can Chicken,” to rave reviews. Resting, I finished reading Agatha Christie’s Destination Unknown. Resting, I have a renewed appreciation for my writing, my life and all of the blessings bestowed upon me.

I’ve shared this before, and I’m sharing it again because I like how Louisa May Alcott puts it: “Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and you prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.”