Otium in the Time of COVID-19: Initial Lessons and Observations
It's been nearly a month since my company proactively mandated that employees work from home. All businesses in my area, except for grocery stores and other essential places, have been shut down.
I'm still getting used to this new normal. But, this unexpected change has given me a new perspective...
A Glimpse of Otium: Playing Piano
Similar to making homemade bread and pasta, playing the piano reveals glimpses of the ideal life I'm seeking,...
The Joys of Being Free On a Workday
When it comes to free time, I certainly enjoy my weekends and vacation time. But, there's something particularly wonderful about being free (not working) in the middle of a workday that makes me positively giddy. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I count my lucky stars....
A Glimpse of Otium: Bread and Pasta
I'm still in the phase of life where I'm working a full-time job. However, even now, from time to time I experience moments that call to mind my ideal life. Not coincidentally, these moments tend to occur in the interstices of life, during evenings or weekends...
What I Talk About When I Talk About Otium, Part 2
In Part 1, I previously wrote about self-explanatory, easily describable things that I want more, less and none of in life (such as more free time and less looking at a screen). In Part 2, I explore more abstract ideas, concepts and goals....
What I Talk About When I Talk About Otium, Part 1
I'm still figuring out what living my best life means. That said, I feel like I know enough to know that I'm not currently living it. That's because tomorrow, like today, I will go to work...
Should I Quit Now or Later?
These days, I often think about how much longer I should (and can) stay at my current job. Staying would certainly help my goal of pursuing otium and financial independence. But at what cost? Is financial independence worth sticking it out for a few more years, or should I...
Are We There Yet?
Not yet. And, since we're here, I might as well define "there," so we know where we're going...
The Last Days of Negotium
The title of this blog is inspired by an idea from the ancient Greeks and Romans two millenia ago. Namely, that the desired state of humanity is otium, a Latin word that refers to "leisure" time or, more precisely, being in control of one's own time....