Warwick Life Strategies

I'm pleased to introduce the multi talented PJ Sangalang as the author of today's blog post. PJ holds a Masters degree in Psychology and is currently residing in Wales, working as the Department Head of Corporate Training for an international company. Welcome PJ!

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"It's about nothing."

Not to necessarily show my age in this first entry, but one of my absolute most favourite television programs is Seinfeld, a show that proclaims to be about nothing. I admire the relative simplicity that every episode seems to starts on: it's four friends living their 'normal' lives either together or by themselves, only to be thrust upon eye-opening, often awkward--though surprisingly relatable and common--scenarios and, dare I say, adventures.

For one reason or another, I had the television show and its philosophy in mind when someone asked me this question recently:

"So what did you do this weekend?"

Whenever someone asks me this question, it used to be the case that my most common answer is the tried-and-true "nothing." I don't necessarily lead the most exciting life all the time (the last time I went bungee jumping was...well, I've never done that) so it's a relatively automatic, if not safe, response. Fact of the matter is, however, this reflexive reply, I've found to also be largley inaccurate: even if I haven't done anything particularly interesting, I've certainly done more than 'nothing'. Much like the aforementioned television program, where the major players do 'nothing', but clearly don't, the same holds true for me when I say I've done 'nothing.'

Even when I have a relatively 'quiet' weekend by myself, it rarely is--between watching television, listening to the radio, perpetually covering my ears with headphones and listening to music or podcasts, playing video games, having MSN Messenger or Skype on...

When is it ever that I'm doing nothing?

How often do I really get that quiet time? That quiet time to reflect? To get away from life's little distractions, if even for a little while? The time to de-compress, to think about how things have gone?

Those were my thoughts when Erin-Brie asked the question in her entry, and I'm glad that I could find that time to read through and reflect on it. Ask yourself if you give yourself a chance to do this, and I'm hoping that you're able to say you can take even a few moments at a time to sit and really do nothing.

After all, if Jerry, Elaine, Kramer and George have taught us anything at the show, when you start off at 'nothing', you can still end up in a pretty amazing place.