Opus 2026-298: The Sloth Spectrum

I don’t consider myself to be lazy.  My wife would disagree with that, at least when she wants something done and wants it done now.  As the song of my youth says, “Manana is soon enough for me.”

The sluggard comes up frequently in Proverbs.  The word is used 14 times and only in Proverbs.  It is not a compliment.  My favorite is where the slothful is described as being too lazy to pull his hand out of the salad bowl to put food in his mouth.  I have never been that lazy.

I would suggest there is a spectrum of sloth-hood.  At one end you have the guy above.  I would think of the stereotype of the basement dwelling millennial who expects Daddy to pay for all his needs and Mommy to prepare and clean for him.  If he leaves the basement it is to go to a party.

I would think the lack of effort goes through various stages.  

As I said, I don’t consider myself lazy.  For at least 40 years I got up every day and went to work.  One time I had three jobs to try and pay the bills.  I may not iron my underwear but I also don’t expect my wife to do it.  My problem is I don’t like wasting my time.  I don’t like tasks that I know will be redone because my standards or skills are not high enough.  I don’t rush out to complete needs that don’t need to be done.  For instance, my wife has wanted me to rake the leaves under our oak trees for years so the snakes won’t get us.  So far I have resisted the raking and avoided the snakes.  Really?  Raking oak leaves in Texas Hill Country?  Nonsense.

Another problem that presents itself is that I don’t notice dirt and clutter.  I pick up my sox.  I make my bed.  I don’t notice the cobwebs in the corner of a room.  The dust tends to build up until my grandchildren come over and start drawing picture in it.  Leaves on the front porch will be replaced by the wind in a few minutes.  Life it too short to worry about some things.

If you have extra energy and want to come rake my leaves I will salute you from my chair in the shade.  I would not want to get in your way of an orderly world.

Color me energy efficient, not lazy.

homo unius libri