Earth Day - Give it a Rest

In an attempt to live a more sane life I'm always looking for ways to extricate myself from self-induced madness and my endless to-do list. You know, take time to stop and smell the roses.

Recently I read a suggestion that it might be a good idea, in our hurry and do more world, to go back to the biblical example of a day of rest. I've also heard that there's actually some good science behind the idea of taking time to take time to, you know, smell those roses. I decided to give it a try.

Instead of using Sundays as a day to catch up with my work, I decided to use it as a day to catch up with myself. On Saturday evening before I go to bed I turn off my computer and my cell phone. They stay off until Monday morning. That goes for TV and electronic games of any ilk.

What do I do all day Sunday? I only do things that would not appear on my to-do list. I try to have food prepared ahead or to eat foods that are simple to prepare. I'm going to clean up my bike during the week and have it ready. It's that bike that's been sitting in the basement for the past two years while I keep saying to myself, "I really should get my bike out." I'm planning a field trip to an art museum with my daughter. I don't take the time to see her often enough. And isn't it all about taking the time? Was I waiting for someone to give me the time to do these things?

I'm now starting to get into the rhythm of this Sunday thing, which I admit, had me a bit at loose ends. I felt I should be doing something. Perhaps I've morphed into a "human doing" and it would take some time to get into the mode of a "human being". On the plus side, my Mondays are more productive and I re-enter my work world with renewed energy.

So on this 40th anniversary of Earth Day I'm moved to ask if this could make a difference. What if everyone turned off their computers, cell phones, and the host of other electronic devices that we just can't live without for one day a week? What if we all gave it a rest.