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Faun

Okay I confess! I *hate* this part. Whether it's for MySpace or Tribe or worse- a job interview, the open-ended request to talk about myself is painful - like a needle to the eye. Or like a 103 foot drop on a roller coaster. My advice: Read my blogs! You'll get to know me that way...eventually.... ...

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The Value of Nothing

Inspired by Gertrude Stein

“It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing.”

That’s what Gertrude Stein said and judging by the fact that she not only has genius credentials herself  but hung out with people like Matisse (one of my favorite painters) and Picasso I would say she’s right. (In fact, Picasso even painted her portrait!)

 But none of this is really the point....

It is instead that there is a dearth of doing nothing in American culture. I mean *nothing*. No TV, no radio, not even a book. How many times can you say per week that you’ve just sat and contemplated?

I’m not pointing fingers here, I’m just asking a question out loud that I usually ask myself quietly.  I hope, however, that  you have a more balanced answer than I! Sometimes I feel like one of the busiest people on the planet with a full-time job, co-owning a business, teaching and a dog. Oh- and I just happen to be on hiatus on my radio show. Did I forget to mention performing or writing a series of children’s books? (The latter has been in its infancy for three years! Stunted growth. Parent, ah, too BUSY!)

 And so I wonder: Could the act of being busy do violence to the potential for genius?

 To answer this question empirically, I can only do one thing: find time to do NOTHING. And perhaps log the hours (seconds?) as one would log the steps they’ve walked.

More questions evolve: Once I successfully do nothing, can I fully embrace the moment? Can I come away from it not feeling guilty but proud that I’ve produced...nothing?

Boy, reaching genius is tough.