Transthought

A Free Saturday Afternoon

When doing Impromptu speeches in my speech class, one topic I often choose for a student to talk about is "How Would I Spend a Free Saturday Afternoon." Saturday seems to be a freer day than any other in the lives of most people. Of course they talk about their hobbies, dreams or some trivial aspect other than work or school. Usually it involves family or friends, seldom only doing something by themselves. Saturday is perceived as a kind of holiday from obligation in most instances.

So here it is Saturday. My wife is playing the piano, my son rummaging in his room, and here I am with no school work to do, and only some routine chores to be accomplished. It is a typical Saturday in July. We are not expecting company or family visitors, may go grocery shopping, or otherwise loll the day away.

I wonder how much could be accomplished if Saturdays were used in industrious ways. When people say they have no time for this task or that obligation, I wonder how much of it could be accomplished if Saturdays were considered with more seriousness. Not that resting, leisure, or self-centered activity isn't worth while, but I could do much more than I do if I did not reserve Saturdays for nothing. Russell Baker once wrote a column in the New York Times of his inability to do nothing, and the concept has stuck with me for many years. It is impossible to do nothing, even if that nothing is nothing more than thinking.

So here I am writing in this blog, some would consider this doing nothing, especially if no one reads this, and what am i accomplishing? Perhaps this kind of thinking reflects my Calvinistic training and upbringing, and stems from a deep-seated guilt about not getting things done, but I don't know. It took me a long tme to appreciate the value of doing nothing, to accept the fact that leisure was as significant as work, and that I and all people are entitled to some free time, away from duty, obligation, and achievement. That, it seems to me, is the value of a free saturday afternoon. My students hardly ever talk about it in this kind of context. Maybe I should make such a speech!

Wayne's words for July 22, 2006

posted by Wayne Olson @ 8:34 AM