The art of doing nothing...

Today I watched the sunrise in Miami. Two nights of inadequate sleep, one day of travel across the US, and somehow I ended up at a Marriott resort for the night, thanks to Priceline. Don’t know why, but I just couldn’t sleep despite the down pillows and comforter. Maybe excited, or nervous, about my trip to Jamaica? My trip to Atlanta for the Tough Mudder? My trip to New Zealand spending 6 months away from family and friends?! Too many possibilities…I need to slow down. Somehow I need to learn how to do that. The problem is that I get too excited about doing or seeing things, and when I have unfilled time I insert the activity first on the list. There is no “do nothing time”. Doing Nothing is truly an art. You have to actively release yourself from responsibility, plan nothing, and DO NOTHING. Of course, this doing nothing can be watching reruns on TV, playing video games if that is your thing, read a book for fun, or lay in the grass on a sunny day for an indefinite period of time (love the last one). I really thought I would be doing more nothing when I quit my job, but somehow I haven’t stopped running! I’ve been too busy doing nothing to do nothing! And what’s worse, to do nothing, I actually have to make it part of my schedule! Doesn’t that seem contradictory? So, yes, I need more practice at doing nothing…maybe I can fit that in next week…

So, at this moment I have arrived in Kingston and I am waiting at the home base for the rest of the MIA team to arrive. I am happy to see old faces and meet new ones, including finally meeting Debbie Chong who help to found the group. I am so impressed by what she has done with this organization. I don’t know yet what the schedule will be like for the week, but I am hoping for some OR time. All of my proctoring but not laying hands on a patient has made me itchy for direct patient contact and care, especially in the OR. Still, the point is to fill a need, so I go where they tell me. In the meantime, I am readying myself for the culinary delights of the trip: jerk chicken, festival bread, juicy patties, Devon House ice cream, super yum! A year and a half ago when I first came down here, I had no idea what all of that meant, but now I am well versed in Jamaican treats! Did I mention the rum and Red Stripe? ;)

Okay, I am off to do SOMETHING!