Annie Dillard recently died. She was renowned for her writings, especially Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Holy the Firm. I read these books, and did not get much out of them, but maybe I just didn’t get it. It happens sometimes. I didn’t like Faulkner, Hemingway, Joyce, or Salinger either. She wrote The Writing Life. The purpose of my writing is life, that is, my life and the lives of others who will, I hope, be blessed by what I write. To keep people laughing is a good way to bless them.
Annie said, “Spend the afternoon. You can’t take it with you.” We have all heard statements like this regarding money and possessions. But time is also a resource which we must spend, not waste. I am one of those personalities who tried to cram as many accomplishments into a day as I could. I planned ahead for them, and kept detailed records of them. In retirement, I still do this to a great extent.
Having said this, I must point out that sometimes the best investment of time is to rest. I have had a lifelong insomnia problem, which to my amazement seems to be now under control. I do not nap very often, but when I do, it is because (I think) my body needs it. The result of my nap this afternoon is this mediocre essay.
Life, including naps, is an investment, and one in which you have no choice but to participate. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” is truer than you may think.
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