August 2

Dolce far niente | dol·ce far nien·te

/ˌdōlCHā ˌfär nēˈentā/

This is an Italian phrase for “Sweet Doing Nothing.” Or translated into English: “The pleasure/sweetness of doing nothing.” Sometimes, we neglect the thought that we need to do absolutely nothing. In recovery, we hear phrases like, “If you aren’t growing, you are going!” We even say shit like, “Stay active. Stay sober.” As though staying active means you will remain sober (ha!). We must learn to meet our needs and evaluate when we should be active and when we should pause, rest, and renew. When we work towards balance and pay attention to what we need, we will find the right ebb and flow of our natural rhythms.

Reflections

What does a day of “doing nothing” look like for you? When was the last time you had a day of doing “sweet fuck all” nothing? Does this thought excite or scare you? Something to think about.

Daily Challenge

Make time today. Pick an hour you can set aside today and do absolutely nothing with it. Try this attitude on for an hour and see how it feels.