Often, I think of 'do' and 'busy' as negatives -- "I am so busy," I complain. "I have too much to do." Meanwhile, I often use those same terms to describe my toddler -- "He's very busy," I'll say, or "He's doing all sorts of things. It's so amazing!"

The quietest time in my day today was when I was with him outside in the late afternoon. All I had to do was watch him, and as always he was very busy -- climbing, swinging, sliding, "mowing," and watching intently. It is such a pleasure to get to pause and observe what he is up to.

I too was busy today in a good way. I woke up this morning brimming with ideas for my sabbatical, and I sat down briefly to scribble some lists on the back of a calendar. After weeks of letting things swirl in my head, it was energizing to let things take a little form.

I also plugged away at today's to do lists, and I was lucky to have plenty of uninterrupted time to get things done, to cross things off. Doing can be so satisfying.

#BlogElul for 6 Elul 5773