On the go, always

An older sister who lives abroad, now retired from her long years of practice as a radiation oncologist, is always on the go. Brisk walk in the morning that lasts more than an hour. Then shower, elaborate puja and reciting of shloks, decorating the deities on the altar. Off to the kitchen where she prepares the day’s meals. Then washing up, cleaning the house and weeding her garden. Afternoons are spent watching romcoms on television; sometimes reading a book. Then gardening, maybe grocery shopping. Evening, once again shlok recitations and piano practice. Off to bed exhausted. There are days when she meets up with friends, entertains, travels and so on. But nary a day spent doing nothing.

During her India visits, her schedule is jam-packed with temple visits, meeting relatives and friends, shopping and maybe eating out. No part of her day is spent doing nothing. I often ask her, why are you always on the go? You get so restless if you have nothing to do! Oh, she would reply, I cannot do nothing.

In contrast, I am relatively sedate; perhaps even lazy. I love doing nothing. Well, that is what people who meditate do, I guess, though they are in the act of meditation. But the very thought that one can relax doing nothing with no deadlines looming, is a privilege, especially in one’s senior years. After an active and busy life at work and home, these pockets of nothingness are divine gifts. I can finally answer the question, “What did you do today” with a guilt-free “I did nothing.”