Posted on April 14, 2008 - by MG

Being and Doing

Boy on a raft in Sao Miguel de Gostoso, BrazilOriginally uploaded by mgharris
Serenity, I’m told, requires a balance between Being and Doing.

Some people know how to Doing rather well; they get up early and go for brisk country walks with the dog, or to the gym, they hit their morning workplace with a sense of achievement already under their belt. They can structure their days around all manner of routine or even productive tasks. Such people, apparently, are good at avoiding bouts of depression, having already adopted exactly the kind of strategies that many psychotherapists suggest for lifting oneself out of temporary misery.

But are they happy?

Because it is also important simply to Be. You know, as John Lennon said in answer to a question like “What do most want to achieve?” – “I want to be here, now”. Or Elaine from Seinfeld who once confessed to have spent an evening doing “Literally nothing. I sat in a chair and I stared.”

Well any good holiday needsa balance between Being and Doing. I’m not very good at Being, usually – I feel there has to be a certain amount of Doing in order to earn the Being.

In the most peaceful, restful beach resort I’ve ever known in my life in the tiny town of Sao Miguel de Gostoso, I have been working on Being. And it kinda works…I feel a bit more serene, that’s for sure.

I did take some photos though, like this one of a`little boy rafting out to the fishing boats on the gun-metal grey sea. I made three beds. I watched the kids a little.

Mainly though, I did Being.And it’s not bad!