If you want to combat acedia at any phase of your life or want to explore the future as you near retirement, I would suggest a good beginning step would be the practice of the scrawled note. It works like this.
First you find a small notebook that will fit in your shirt pocket or purse. Put your name and phone number on the outside and mark it private. Then you begin to take advantage of those many little slivers of waiting time that often drive our time obsessed society nuts. These are those moments at a stop light, outside a patient’s room while the nurses are completing their activities, while a computer is booting up in the office, or waiting for your lunch appointment to show up at the restaurant.
Whenever you find one of these “waiting times,” pull out your notebook and pen. (Of course for you techno freaks, you can always use your Blackberry or IPad.) Begin by writing very brief comments about how you are feeling. These can be either negative or positive, and they should be focused on descriptive phrases with feelings included. This is not an essay, but simply random thoughts. “I’m not sure this is all worth it.” “I don’t have the energy to fight one more budget battle.” I can’t wait until next June when all of this is over.” “If I have to perform one more wedding with a couple that could care less about the church, I’m going to throw up.etc. But also positive thoughts. “I’m looking forward to next week at the conference.” “My wife was really pleased with the flowers I ordered.” “Monday I’m going to spend the whole day working in the yard.”
Just keeping record of these random thoughts and feelings will have its benefits, but tomorrow we will look at some other possibilities of their value.
