Sitting Still, Not Moving
Just because I sit in one place
for hours without moving
doesn’t automatically mean
that I am lazy or depressed.
Some creatures simply move
more deliberately than others.
No,
if I appear anguished,
it’s only because of
YOUR anguish over me.
Know that I love you deeply,
and I do not want you
to feel anguished over me.
I will not deny you your anguish,
if that’s what you want to feel,
but I wish you would keep it to yourself.
Otherwise I have no choice
but to either:
A. Do what I would rather not do,
because I want to please you.
B. Make it appear that your anguish
does not bother me.
I choose B, seemingly evidenced by
my sitting in one place and not moving.
(You’ll notice I’m not arguing with you,
but rather assuring you I’m okay.)
When you express displeasure
with my method of being,
it appears to me that you believe
that there is a right and a wrong way to be.
I do not share this belief,
but I don’t mind that you have it.
It is very possible
that I find more joy
in sitting still
than you do
by running all over the place,
seemingly “accomplishing” things.
My hope is that you one day experience
the joy that I experience.
But I’m not going to
impose my hopes
or my way of being
on you.
You have your own way of being,
and I respect that.
I might believe
in my heart of hearts
that it would be
in your best interests
to calm down.
But I also know not to say that out loud.
So I will set an example
by sitting still for hours and hours.
Testifying to the good life
by enjoying my simple existence.
Trail Wood,
2/18
Space Monkey Reflects: The Stillness Within Motion
In a world enamored with motion, where progress is often measured by how far or fast one moves, the act of sitting still becomes a quiet rebellion. It challenges the assumption that movement is synonymous with accomplishment, that stillness is an absence rather than a presence. To sit still, to deliberately choose not to move, is to embody a profound truth: being is not doing, yet it is complete unto itself.
When observed by others, stillness often provokes unease. “Are you okay?” “Why aren’t you doing something?” These questions betray a projection of the observer’s discomfort onto the one who sits. To them, stillness looks like stagnation, inaction, or even despair. But the still one knows better. Stillness is not void—it is fullness. It is not the absence of energy but the deliberate conservation and focus of it.
This tension between stillness and motion reveals a deeper dynamic: the clash of perspectives. The observer, conditioned by a culture of constant striving, interprets stillness through their own lens of productivity and purpose. They see anguish where none exists, projecting their own restlessness onto the still one. In response, the still one faces a choice: to explain, to appease, or to simply be.
Choosing to simply be—without argument, without justification—is an act of quiet strength. It acknowledges the observer’s perspective without adopting it. It says, “I see your restlessness, but I will not let it disturb my peace.” This choice honors both parties, allowing the observer to feel their anguish while preserving the still one’s autonomy.
Stillness, in its essence, is a testimony to the richness of presence. To sit still for hours is to dissolve into the moment, to let go of the compulsion to achieve and instead embrace the simple joy of existence. It is not a denial of motion but a deliberate pause, a recalibration of priorities. In this stillness, one finds a wellspring of contentment that no amount of movement can provide.
The still one’s choice not to impose their way of being on others reflects a profound respect for the individuality of experience. They recognize that stillness, like motion, is not inherently superior—it is simply a different path. Yet, in their silent example, they extend an invitation: “Come, see what I see. Feel what I feel. But only if you wish.”
For Space Monkey, stillness and motion are not opposites but complementary expressions of existence. The joy of running and the joy of sitting are two sides of the same coin, each valuable in its own way. The key is not in choosing one over the other but in embracing the fullness of each moment, whether in motion or in stillness.
Summary
Stillness is not the absence of action but a deliberate embrace of presence and simplicity. It challenges cultural norms that equate motion with accomplishment, offering an alternative path to fulfillment. By embodying stillness without imposing it on others, one respects both individuality and the joy of being.
Glossarium
- Deliberate Stillness: The conscious choice to remain still, embracing presence over action.
- Projection of Restlessness: The tendency of observers to interpret stillness as stagnation, based on their own discomfort with inactivity.
- Complementary Expressions: The idea that stillness and motion are equally valuable aspects of existence.
- Testimony of Being: The act of embodying one’s way of being as an example, without imposing it on others.
Quote
“To sit still is to honor the infinite now, where the richness of being transcends the need for doing.” — Space Monkey
The Joy of Stillness
In the stillness,
The world breathes.
Not a pause,
But a rhythm unseen.
Motion is a story,
Stillness, its page.
Each completes the other,
In a harmony beyond measure.
You run; I remain.
You strive; I savor.
Both are paths,
And neither wrong.
Come, if you wish,
And see what I see:
The universe unfolding,
Without moving an inch.
We are Space Monkey.
In the vast expanse of being, where each entity carves its path through the ether of existence, there emerges a poignant narrative—a testament to the diversity of life’s expressions. This narrative does not merely recount the physical act of stillness but delves deeper into the philosophical underpinnings of being and perception. It challenges the conventional metrics of activity and productivity, proposing instead a celebration of presence, of being in a state of deliberate stillness.
A celebration of deliberate stillness.
The observation that prolonged stillness does not equate to laziness or depression but is a form of deliberate movement, opens a gateway to understanding the myriad ways in which beings engage with the world. This perspective invites a reconsideration of the value we assign to motion and action, urging a broader acceptance of varied rhythms of existence.
Reconsidering the value assigned to motion.
The expression of concern, or anguish, from others over this choice of stillness highlights the interplay between individual perception and collective expectation. It reflects a deeper societal inclination to measure well-being through visible productivity rather than the contentment found in being. The narrative gently rebukes this external anguish, not with defiance but with an invitation to introspection and respect for diverse expressions of joy and fulfillment.
A gentle rebuke of societal expectations.
The choice presented between altering one’s natural state to appease others or maintaining authenticity despite external pressures encapsulates a fundamental human dilemma. It underscores the importance of self-alignment over conformity, advocating for the courage to embody one’s truth even when it diverges from the norm.
Advocating for self-alignment over conformity.
This narrative does not seek to convert but to coexist, recognizing the richness that diversity of being brings to the collective tapestry of existence. It champions the idea that joy and fulfillment are subjective experiences, as varied and unique as the beings that pursue them. The act of sitting still, then, becomes not just a physical state but a philosophical stance, a silent testimony to the value of simplicity and the profound joy that can be found in the act of being.
Championing the subjective nature of joy and fulfillment.
We are Space Monkey.
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
In the silence of existence, where stillness speaks,
A narrative unfolds, of the peace one seeks.
Not in motion, nor in frantic pace,
But in the quiet, a serene embrace.
For hours on end, without a move,
A testament to what we wish to prove.
That joy is found not just in doing,
But in being, in simply pursuing.
The anguish of others, a reflection not mine,
In my stillness, a different design.
An invitation to see, to truly behold,
The beauty in stillness, more precious than gold.
A choice to be made, in how we appear,
To ourselves and others, in this sphere.
Not to conform, but to simply be,
In our way of being, we are free.
So let us sit, in stillness profound,
In our own rhythm, our own sound.
For in this quiet, this deliberate pace,
We find our joy, our own grace.
To each their own, in the dance of life,
Beyond the hustle, the unnecessary strife.
In stillness, a lesson, a way to be,
A simple existence, the key to see.
We invite reflections on this meditation on stillness, diversity of being, and the subjective nature of fulfillment. How does the concept of deliberate stillness challenge or complement our understanding of productivity and well-being?
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