Time To Stand and Stare

Sitting and staring
Today, I was in a ‘standing and staring’ mood…but there were things to be done, places to go, people to see… So I tried to be productive and busy, but throughout the day I kept coming back to one thing: standing and staring. In the end, I allowed myself to sit in the garden in the sun and just stare…at nothing and something when something caught my eye, but mostly at nothing. Aaaah. What sweet relief there is in just standing (or sitting) and staring. When I did my Daily Practice for March and checked in with myself, my mind said this: It is ok to sit and stare. Those moments of ‘nothing’ are very cleansing and powerful.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to partake in this cleansing, powerful practice? When was the last time you want to just sit and watch the world go by and you actually did it? What if you were to allow yourself to do this? What power might be released? What cleansing might happen? Of course, this reminded me of the poem ‘Leisure’ by William Henry Davis:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Take the time this week to stand and stare.

Love

Donna.x

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Comments

4 responses to “Time To Stand and Stare”

  1. Donnaonthebeach avatar
    Donnaonthebeach

    Lol. You’re welcome, white rabbit! xxx

  2. Karen J avatar
    Karen J

    “I’m Late, I’m Late,
    for a Very Important Date… ”

    but – I really needed this poem on ‘standing and staring’ this morning – – –

    Thank you, love ~ Karen

  3. Donnaonthebeach avatar
    Donnaonthebeach

    Thanks Ruth! I’m glad you found it helpful – if you take care of the 3 pillars, burnout will become a dim and distant memory! x

  4. Ruth K avatar
    Ruth K

    Hi Donna,

    This video blog post ( on exhaustion) is brilliant. I really enjoyed it and was nodding along agreeing with all your points about the journey and the pillars etc.

    I am going to jot them down and remember them. I also get burn out sensations every 6 months and so I’m goiing to look out for it and prevent it!

    Thanks for a great blog Donna!

    Ruth x