11 Comments
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Will Brach's avatar

This is a great reminder of what all the "doing" will do to your mind and body. I love feeling productive, and get angry with myself when I go through valleys of laziness. It's important to remember that you usually find yourself waltzing around looking for something to do, because you've accomplished all the things you already set out to do! Great piece, I really enjoyed reading.

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Penny Harrison's avatar

Hey Will. Thank you so much for reading. Yes, it’s so true that all the doing does actually take its toll. Yep, I get angry with myself too - but it’s crazy because we can’t possibly be productive all the time. Thanks for sending me your thoughts. 💫

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Ayesha Falak's avatar

Wow, that was fantastic! The writing, pictures, and narration all came together beautifully. You crushed it!

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Penny Harrison's avatar

Ahh thanks so much Ayesha! That’s so kind. 🙌🙌💖💫

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Martin Hughes's avatar

That's another don't done to tick off the to-don't list!

Great piece, great pics, and I really enjoyed listening to your narration. Job well done...er, I mean don't!

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Penny Harrison's avatar

I don’t know if I’m doing or don’t-ing anymore 😂

I think in a week or so I will look back in this one and think ‘what the heck was I on about?’

Glad you liked the narration - I think giving the option to listen helps doesn’t it? I do like to listen instead of read now and then. It also helps get the tone of these chatty prices across I think.

Anyway, far too much doing going on here, so ta-ra! 💫

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Katherine Mansfield's avatar

I love this so much! I think the don’t-ing (your made up word is giving Shakespeare a run for his money!) is what fuels our doing, and it sounds like your don’t-ing was lovely and restful and needed! I especially love this line: “If there’s one thing we all know, the path, whichever one we’re on, weaves us through shadow and light, then back again and hopefully, each section is edging us along to somewhere, even when we think we’re lost.” It’s so true. Beautifully put. Here’s to doing when we can and don’t-ing when we can’t! 🥰

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Hudson Riley's avatar

So true! I often have to remind myself, "no, you don't have to do anything right now."

Bludging feels so much better when I'm don't-ing and not just procrastinating, and sometimes even productive in and of itself!

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Leanna Julius's avatar

Good for you for listening and allowing yourself to “don’t” instead of do! The realization and knowing how to slow down is the hardest part. It sounds like it was exactly what you needed and the pictures are gorgeous ❤️

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Sue Gale's avatar

Great to get permission for taking a bit of time off sometimes, lying in an armchair with left over Easter Egg and watching Andrew Scott in Ripley!

Thought provoking as ever Penny. Don’ting seems rather a good word. I’m going to use it…

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Joel Wisniewski's avatar

I love this! I have a lot of plans for today. Can you imagine the list 1), 2), 3) ... A "doing day" for sure. I think of all the things I want to do and need to do. But where is the creativity in that? Most of the great ideas have their genesis in "don't doing". I don't have to make a list for that! It's going to rain today and that is a great day for creating. I'll set my list aside and walk in the rain. I'm sure I will come up with something great.

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