Me, the Lazy One

August 2019

“We are not to be idle, that we would show we did not trust in God, who worketh hitherto,

but to the devil, who is the father of idleness.”

“We are not to be imprudent or rash; that were to trust chance, and not the living God, who is a God of economy and order. Acting in all prudence and uprightness, we are to rely simply and entirely upon the Lord at all times.”

— Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

PEOPLE ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN I SAY I AM A LAZY PERSON

People always laugh when I say I am a lazy person.

Maybe it’s because they have never seen anyone work so much and so hard.

I have been called Superwoman, Wonder Woman, Super Mom, and so on.

Laziness Is My Motivation

But the truth is, I work hard so that I can enjoy my life and “lepak” (a slang term I learnt from my kids – a Malay word meaning to laze around, to relax and do nothing). To do the things I really like to do, like finishing a good book (pure luxury) or to take short breaks (too long and they become a drag), with good food and coffee, and with a good Balinese massage thrown in between.

The beauty about working — for a lazy person like me that is — is that work becomes fun too because I look forward to my reward when the work is done.

And like my God of economy who is generous but never wastes, I work as efficiently and effectively as I can, not wasting time nor let anyone waste mine, with the added bonus – it also affords me to be generous to others as well as to myself in time, heart and resources.

It Makes Me Plan Better

Like my God of order, I plan my time of “lepak” as well as my time of working well ahead, setting yearly goals, monthly plans and weekly lists. I also have a 5-year dream plan.

LIKE MY GOD OF ORDER, I PLAN MY TIME OF "LEPAK" AS WELL AS MY TIME OF WORKING WELL AHEAD, SETTING YEARLY GOALS, MONTHLY PLANS AND WEEKLY LISTS. I ALSO HAVE A 5-YEAR DREAM PLAN

While I used to be able to multitask — any mother has to — I find that as I age I cannot do that very well anymore. As a result, I break tasks down into mini targets, completing them one by one before I start on another.

I Plan to Have Fun

When I turned 50, I had a yearly resolution to visit at least one new city or place every year. I have managed to do that very well, visiting more than one new place a year since!

As our children leave our nests, I started to plan trips also with my sisters, friends and classmates, most of whom are retired.

My personal motto in life is: “Work hard, but play harder.”