SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Do nothing for two minutes

Feb 3, 2011, 2:34 AM | Updated: Mar 28, 2011, 3:46 pm

Doing nothing for a couple of minutes – is that a challenge? That can’t be very difficult.

Do you have any time to relax during the day? I spend my days researching stories, writing blog posts, thinking about work, tweeting, responding emails, and if my kids are lucky I’ll actually remember to make them dinner. I’m happy. I like accomplishing stuff. Everything’s fine.

Until…

Someone (usually Mr. Thomas) points out that I seldom “just chill” anymore. Not true! I’ll show him. I sat down with the intention of doing absolutely nothing for 10 minutes. I looked at the clock yesterday and proclaimed, “I’m going to relax until 1:00.” Maybe 40 seconds later I was reaching for my iPhone to check email, which led me right back to work. Maybe he’s right. Don’t tell him I said that.

I stumbled on a challenge that’s been going through Facebook – do nothing for two minutes. There’s a web page to help with this challenge . This is my kind of meditation. I can certainly do nothing for two minutes.

Well…

I received a red “fail” within a few seconds because I moved the mouse.

Nothing

Seattle News Archives & Features

Associated Press

Teenager arrested and 5 others sought in deadly July 4 fire in Washington state

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — An 18-year-old in Washington state has been arrested for the investigation of manslaughter and arson in connection with a deadly July 4 fire, a county sheriff said Thursday. The teen from Kent was among a group of people setting off illegal fireworks from the back of a truck when one […]

3 days ago

Authorities issued a Level 3, Go Now, evacuation advisory for a new wildfire called the Goat Fire i...

Tom Brock

EVACUATE NOW: Goat Fire spikes to Level 3 in Upper Cle Elum Valley

Authorities are ordering evacuations for a new fire, called the Goat Fire, in the Cle Elum Valley of the Cascade Mountains.

14 days ago

hit-and-run mukilteo father of 7...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Suspect in Mukilteo hit-and-run that killed father of 7 turns himself in

The man accused of hitting and killing a motorcyclist before leaving the scene has turned himself in, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP).

21 days ago

The Three Queens Fire near Snoqualmie Pass and Kachess Lake increased to more than 800 acres this w...

Tom Brock

Racing the Flames: Fast-growing wildfire forces evacuations near Snoqualmie Pass & Kachess Lake

A lightning-caused wildfire six miles west of Snoqualmie Pass is growing and threatening cabins at the north end of Kachess Lake.

29 days ago

The tiny eyes of about 20 cats are focused on a Tacoma police officer as he snaps a shot of them on...

Tom Brock

How 30+ cats survived on an abandoned Tacoma boat

Officers say they responded after receiving reports from people who spotted a lot of cats on a sailboat anchored just off Owen Beach, on the northern tip of Point Defiance Park

29 days ago

Associated Press

Man charged with arson in Spokane, Washington, told police he planned wildfire for weeks

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A Spokane County detective who interviewed the man accused of starting one of the city’s wildfires said the man confessed, described his planning process and explained how he created a device to ignite the blaze. Detective Michael Drapeau said in a court filing Wednesday that Aaron Farinacci told him that he […]

1 month ago

Do nothing for two minutes