Tension—which can also be described as strain, stress, and effort—is valued in our era. You and I have been conditioned to believe that these are leading indicators to success. 

One saying goes, “A for effort,” which acknowledges dedication even with an unsuccessful outcome. A twist on is, “E for effort.” (I take it to mean it’s lower than a D—the lowest passing letter grade—but not quite an F—a failing grade.) Through these experiences, we are rewarded for tension and conditioned to be tense. 

This isn’t the only way to live, though. When you walk through a garden or park, you aren’t tense. You’re just looking at flowers. You’re contemplating—being receptive to what offers itself, allowing things to present themselves. You’re not observing—straining or calling effort to possess the experience. (Not until you decide you want to take a photo, at least!)

This illustration is from Josef Pieper’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture, and I have been contemplating it for the past several days. It also reminds me of why it is so special to make something you’ll never show anyone else.

It reminds me of Nassim Taleb’s resolution to only do things that felt like hobbies. Perhaps another way of saying it would be to spend more time in contemplation, and less in observation. (And, besides the point, Nassim would tell you that he was very productive that year.)