Nothing
That was a foolish thing to say. He said, ‘Write about nothing.’ I was completely flummoxed, of course, and went away, which is probably what he wanted me to do. This was the boy who, forced to ‘play’ with me, tied me to a drain pipe by my plaits and left me. He was an odd person – even my parents said that he was ‘different’. I can’t remember who rescued me, probably my sister, who was fifteen years my senior.
I’ve often thought about that sentence, ‘Write about nothing’.
What is ‘nothing’? It is an absence, a lack of existence, of no importance, a nobody. Sweet nothings are fanciful remarks, often flirtatious. When asked if something is amiss, we may answer, ‘Nothing’, but that is usually untrue. It simply means that we are not prepared to discuss the problem that troubles us, or perhaps we’re trying to avoid an argument, or unpleasantness.
A child complains, ‘I'm bored. I’ve got nothing to do,’ although he or she apparently has every device under the sun and shelves full of books. Children need to learn to cope with boredom and to realise that life is not a carousel of delight and entertainment. They have to rely on their own resources, to learn how to manage their time or they will grow into discontented adults.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
‘Write about nothing’ – these days, naturally, I do little else than write about nothing, or, at least, nothing in particular.
You write about "nothing" beautifully. I always look forward to your posts! This one was one of your best!
ReplyDeleteOoh, thank you Elizabeth. My head's so big now I shan't get through the door ;-)
DeleteYour writing skills may have saved you from some misery in life. Thanks be!
ReplyDeleteI do find writing therapeutic, just as I do playing (at) the piano.
DeleteThis is one of the most interesting and perceptive things I've read for a very long time. I have made a note and I have also printed it out so that I will actually remember it.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a nice thing to say, Graham. Thank you.
DeleteThere is nothing amiss with your blog writing skills.
ReplyDeleteDo you still talk to your brother??
My brother emigrated to Canada and had very little contact with our parents, though I'm sure he was fond of them in his own strange way. He died a few years ago and I'm ashamed to say that I've never shed a tear for him - I couldn't bear the way he treated our parents.
DeleteI think I might have liked that as a subject. I enjoyed 'composition' too. Every Friday morning . . .
ReplyDeleteLoving your 'composition' skills, thank you. xx
Thank you, Joy. Perhaps all bloggers enjoyed 'composition.'
DeleteHi Janice - I'd have been flummoxed back in those youthful days to write about 'nothing' ... now I could write about anything - please don't set me a test! I agree with your fellow commentators - delightful posts to read - Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we (bloggers) can all address almost any subject. If the interest is there, the research and the knowledge grow.
DeleteI was an only child, but I don't remember any boredom. Nobody would believe me today, but I was rather shy and loved reading as soon as I had learned it and became a real bookworm. My mother told me that there is real life too and not only books, but I preferred to live in my books. And then I started to write a diary and letters to friends and my grandmother and everybody told me that I should write a book !! That"s when I found the blogging ! In 2006 and there I could write and people even read me ! And I learned that the world is big and not only the little countries here around and that we women everywhere had the same ideas or dreams ! I still learn a lot !
ReplyDeleteI was a bookish child, too, but talked to everyone. Blogging is such a good way to communicate and learn.
DeleteIt is funny to be reminded that as a child I often said, I have nothing to do. Too bad then we didn't know we'd have to have a working life before we got to do nothing again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame children don't realise what a gift time is.
DeleteNothing is important. A chance to recharge batteries. As the old saying goes, silence is golden. - CJ
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteI too loved composition and it was my ' best ' subject .
ReplyDeleteBoredom - yes, I don't like that word - for me it usually translates as ' can't be bothered '.
I really enjoyed reading your post too.
Alison in Wales x
I agree - 'boredom' is negative.
DeleteNothing to me, is an absence of activity. A lull in the activity of an over stimulated brain trying to problem solve. It is a chance to sit quietly and look at the small details that surround me. Nothing isn't boredom. It is a rest. A chance to allow peace to flood your soul.
ReplyDeleteWise words, Debby - I love your last sentence - 'A chance to allow peace to flood your soul.'
DeleteThought provoking and well written, as always. Nothing can be empty or full.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it can.
DeleteWhat a rotten but typical brother. I read a challenge the other day: I'll look for it and put it on my blog. I was going to try it and you might like to as well.
DeleteI'll look out for it.
DeleteI had earlier commented about your splendid bee header photo but I believe my comment disappeared. I like it very much.
ReplyDeleteI remember you kind comment and replied to it. I wonder where it went? I'm not the photographer - that's my husband. I point and shoot and often miss . . .
DeleteWell, I enjoyed this post, thank you, and reading through the comments I find that everything Debby said I agree with ... so I have copied her words (I hope she will not mind!)
ReplyDelete"Nothing to me, is an absence of activity. A lull in the activity of an over stimulated brain trying to problem solve. It is a chance to sit quietly and look at the small details that surround me. Nothing isn't boredom. It is a rest. A chance to allow peace to flood your soul."
All the best Jan
Her words were lovely, I thought, and very astute.
DeleteI do not mind at all.
DeleteI write about nothing every morning in my journal haha but it helps to bring my thoughts together to face the day. One of America's greatest hit TV shows was a show about nothing.
ReplyDeleteOne of the tips for writers is to write every morning for a certain period, about anything at all. It's even suggested to destroy it after writing. Not sure about that!
ReplyDelete