Dolce Far Niente

The sweetness of doing nothing.

When I first heard of the phrase in Eat Pray Love, I felt like it spoke right to my heart.

And I started secretly wishing that all my friends and coworkers are true blue Italians.

Then maybe I wouldn't be made to feel bad for the disappointing looks on their faces whenever I answer the following questions:

"What did you do over the weekend?"

"What are your plans for *insert occasions*?"

"What did you do on your holidays?"

"What do you do when you are not working?"

"What are you guys doing for *inserts occasions*?"

Because my answer is always, "Nothing at all!"

I feel like I constantly have to explain myself for not having a busier social calender.

Instead of nothing, I'm supposed to be doing something. But, why?

I'm not really in the mood of partying, lunching, throwing dinner parties, or attending cocktail functions just to mingle with a bunch of acquaintances and strangers. Been there, done that, and now I'm just really over it. So should I do it just for the sake of doing it?

Doesn't anyone else appreciate the joy of doing nothing at all?

Really, no one?

As some of you might know, I've been contemplating on quitting my job for quite a while now.

Not really to switch to another job, but just to stop working for a while.

A year, maybe. A little longer, perhaps.

(Well, it's not like I haven't taken such long breaks from work before.)

And whenever I mention this, I face the inevitable question, "So what do you plan on doing?"

Um, nothing?

And would that really be so wrong?

Anyway. Moving on.

It's Boxing Day replacement holiday today.

Until I gather enough courage to face up to people's disapproval and disappointment, or move to Italy altogether, I guess it's back to work for me tomorrow.

But for now, I'm gonna go take a siesta with my husband in the family room with a lush garden and warm afternoon sunlight right outside the windows.

Dolce far niente!