Idle Hands They Do Atrophy

sans complex weighted purpose
idle hands they tend to atrophy
as just breathings way too easy
us humans are no turnips
we need far more than dirt
to live truly to the fullest
we all need some weighted purpose

Author's Note

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

Idle hands and the mind, yes. I've learned this truth in the past year, since I retired. I'm a miserable man with no significant purpose. Your also poem reminds of a recent interview I watched on YouTube. It was Dr. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and college professor at the University of Toronto, who explained how "happiness" should not be our goal (many shallow self-help book authors would disagree). Instead, it should be responsibility, and embedded within that, competence. Generally, the same as what some call "purpose." As Peterson explained, it's a biological thing. We must be responsible for something important, or as you've said well here, we "atrophy." This is what you get from me at 4 a.m. Brown drips from my rusty brain bucket.

[Davidgeo]

I believe we watched the same youtube video. It's posted on my main page, 2nd from the top, if it is the same video that is.

[R.E. Ray]

It's not the same video, but similar content. He has hundreds of hours of YouTube videos. If you're interested hearing more, he was on the Jocko podcast (Jocko Willink) two times in the past year. Interesting man who offers original thoughts.

[Davidgeo]

I've been following Dr Peterson for several years now. His thoughts aren't precisely original, he pretty much agrees with and applies a Jungian approach most of the time... I think I would call him so practical with his views that, compared with the times in academia, it actually has become genuinely original.

[Nipplegrinder]

This is really good. Loved the use of "sans", in the first line. I doubt the poem would be as good, had you used, "without".

[Davidgeo]

It would have clashed with hands.

It's important to sound aesthetically pleasing whenever you're able.

[Nipplegrinder]

Agreed. I endeavor.

[Davidgeo]

Indeed. It is always good to see you.

[AYVID N]

Again, it comes down to existence. We need purpose to fill our time. The same 12-hour cycle of light and dark continues since earth began. Nothing I achieve can budge that by an inch. Without purpose we'd die much sooner.

[KWP]

You are getting quite the fan club ;)

when you are rich and famous remember I was here from ground zero :D

hello !!! Have you switched your ganga buds or sumfin? You are going all Swami Vivekananda on me - you must know I real in this stuff right? A lot of people (on this site - including myself) when writing like this make the mistake of telling people how they should think. You leave things nicely open to the readers interpretation - kudos to you. I will do my best to follow suit - happy day X

[Davidgeo]

I was pretty high and a little drunk on fancy whisky when I wrote this.... normally I'd include at least three lines telling the reader how to think. I'm glad you liked it.

And I'm pretty sure the fan club is only pretending to like me. Or they just haven't read the stuff that proves how much of an irrefutable a*****e I am yet.

[Resa]

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities.
Wish I didn’t have so many. Then, I think back to my younger years.
Without responsibility, I always found myself doing stupid crap!
Partying a lot then recovering.
It’s like that saying “ Idle hands are the Devils playground “.
I liked your poem:)

[Davidgeo]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked my poem.

As long as you weren't smoking crack it couldn't have been too bad.

[Resa]

LOL!
No crack.
I’m just saying, when we have nothing to do,
Some us tend to do stupid things.

[Davidgeo]

You speak the truth Resa.

[Cherrie Palmer]

A weighted purpose does ask a person to give more and always be more. Great poem words to wake up to.

[Davidgeo]

If we're not growing we tend to be dying. It's been several years since I've retired and it took me almost 2 of those years to figure the out the truth of that statement absolutely. Without any kind of real purpose most normal people become both unhappy and unhealthy.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I agree we were built for growth no matter the age

[Davidgeo]

I think those who can still truly grow at an old age is proof of a soul. Humans are pretty much the only animal able to actually improve their lot in life after their prime.

[Neville]

There are several universal truths contained herein methinks, yet still my mental muscle aches for purpose. This turnip needs more dirt and sleep...........................N