Photo by FABIOLA MEDEIROS
A few months ago, I worked 70+ hours a week, managing two jobs and a volunteer position. When I was able to set aside a few minutes, I couldn’t help but use my time to prepare for my next set of tasks. When I slept, I dreamed about what would happen if I didn’t complete them. I needed time alone, time to think, and time to imagine. I had to stop and take a break. I finally did.
Philip K. Howard writes:
Smart people spend time alone. They don’t fill their days with appointments from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., as many politicians and executives do. Great science do not emerge from hard logic and grinding hours. It comes from the mysterious resources of the human brain and soul. Inspiration is nurtured by activities like chopping wood and raking leaves, preparing dinner and reading to the kids. These activities soften the rigid pace of the day’s pursuits and allow all our God-given intuition to work its unlogical magic. Only then can we reach our fullest potential. Only then can we leap from thinking to understanding.