How to live a life of leisure (it’s not what you think)

Occasionally, I stumble across an idea that is so simple, profound, and startlingly unexpected that it takes my breath away.

I want to share the words of David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, from something he wrote in 1977.

We think of leisure as the privilege of those who can afford to take time (this endless taking!) — when in reality it isn’t a privilege at all. Leisure is a virtue, and one that anyone can acquire. It is not a matter of taking but of giving time. Leisure is the virtue of those who give time to whatever it is that takes time — give as much time to it as it takes.

Here’s the same quote (in bold), followed by my comments.

We think of leisure as the privilege of those who can afford to take time (this endless taking!) — when in reality it isn’t a privilege at all.

Well, that was a surprise to me! Like you, I thought it took time (time I didn’t have) to have leisure in my life.

When he says “This endless taking!”, he’s referring to ideas from earlier in the essay, things like taking and giving and letting go.

Leisure is a virtue, and one that anyone can acquire.

A virtue is idea about who we want to be, like brave or honest.

To say that I have a certain virtue, I must do certain things and not do others. For example, for me to say I have honesty, I must tell the truth and I must not steal.

It is not a matter of taking but of giving time.

Uh-oh. I’m not sure I like this. I like having time, and I don’t like giving it. But who would I give it to?

Leisure is the virtue of those who give time to whatever it is that takes time — give as much time to it as it takes.

And so Steindl-Rast answers my question. Time is given to the activity that needs it.

Here’s what this sentence means to me: “Leisure” is an idea about who I want to be. To be a person who embodies the virtue of leisure, I must do certain things and not do others.

• I must give a task the time it needs
• I must not resent giving time to the task

I do not like this answer, but I know it is true.

Leisure does not mean working, playing, or living more slowly.

It does not mean (oh horror!) that you must be less productive.

It simply means that when you work, you work. When you play, you play. When you do anything, you don’t do it with half your attention on everything else you need to do.

No more worrying. No more running like the Devil is at your back.

Instead: Peace. Contentment. Satisfaction.

I have a few lines that I read throughout the day:

Do each task with SERENITY and GRATITUDE.

Let go of STRESS. Recapture POISE.

ENJOY your work.

You have ALL THE TIME in the world.

Yes, you can live a life of leisure.