January 16th is National Nothing Day.
This day was initiated by the journalist Harold Pullman Coffin. He proposed to make a day a “non-event” day. Since then, the day has been listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events.
Promoting “doing nothing” in our modern society might sound absurd. As “being busy” has been labeled as “being productive.” We recently watched a TED talk about boredom and ideas. In that talk, the speaker mentioned that an average person checks their emails 74 times per day and switches tasks on their computer 566 times per day. Teens constantly look at their phones, and social media feeds during conversations. Moreover, she made such a conclusion to describe the benefit and phenomenon of boredom.
“…take a break, stare out the window, and know by doing nothing you are actually being your most productive and creative self. It might feel weird and uncomfortable at first, but boredom truly leads to brilliance.”
— Manoush, How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas/ TED 2017
That TED talk reminded us of a WELL feature:
“… supporting access to outdoor green and natural spaces can support the health and well-being of a wide range of individuals within a built community.” — WELL09, Provide Natural Access Outdoors
This particular day also falls on the same day as Martin Luther King’s memorial every seven years. We wonder if his message “I have a dream” might echo more soundly when we take a day-long vow of boredom and let our minds be lost in the profound wilderness …
On this momentous day, we design this card for developers. Thanks to them for planning a neighborhood that is accessible to natures.
By the way…
There is a Martin Luther King Jr. recreational Park in our neighborhood. The address is: 1120 Jackson Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20904. If you plan doing nothing today, check it out!