Americans Work Too Hard

I started my day out quite groggy. Over-slept and still groggy. Just got out of the tub, spent about an hour in there reading such a great book. It's hard to put Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert down whenever I happen to pick it up.

Anyway, while I was dressing a few minutes ago, I decided against the underwear and the bra. Hell, I almost said "screw it," and walked out of my not-so-spacious closet naked. But, I didn't. No, because I wanted to have my back door open, letting in that gloomy light and air that comes with possible rain. Oh, but that air feels nice on my still-damp skin.

Yesterday, I had planned to take a walk, noticing as much as possible, then come home, go about my business, and eventually sit down and write about my walk in excess. Well, the walk didn't happen. And I didn't really "go about my business" either. I was a bit lazy yesterday. It seems I'm a bit lazy every day, though.

I sleep too much, either eat too much or too little, and have so little physical activity in my life that I feel, well, the best word I can think of is "blah."

I'm 19, living with my boyfriend, and already feel like that stay-at-home wife. And I'm not even married! I'm constantly bored. Monday, Wednesday, Friday: I teach water aerobics from 8am-9am, I lifeguard from 11:30am-1pm. Tuesday, Thursday: If I'm lucky, I have work for my aunt that I need to do. Otherwise, I'm sitting on the couch, watching TV, or cleaning up a bit. I want that 9-5. I want to be busy!

But, last night, while reading Eat, Pray, Love, I came across a bit that she wrote.

"...Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertaining-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world. But...we seem to like it. Alarmingly statistics back this observation up, showing that many Americans feel more happy and fulfilled in there offices than they do in their own homes. Of course, we all inevitably work too hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pajamas, eating cereal right out of the box and staring at the TV in a mild coma (which is the opposite of working, yes, but not exactly the same thing as pleasure). Americans don't really know how to do nothing. This is the cause of that great sad American stereotype--the overstressed executive who goes on vacation, but who cannot relax." (page 61)

And I identify with a lot of that. For one, I need to have constant entertainment to feel slightly happy. Secondly, I'd prefer working long days than maybe 4 hours a day (like I do now). Thirdly, I honestly do not "know how to do nothing." Well, let me clarify that. I know how to do nothing, but I'm not good at it. I don't find pleasure in it. I can't just sit there, because I'll end up twiddling my thumbs thinking of what else I could be doing to entertain myself.

I want to learn that, but can't think of how. And, then again, I don't want to learn that. I want to get going, keep going. I want to do something!

Well, there's my rant for the week.

Enjoy!

Live * Laugh * Love

Alayna