AN IDLE BRAIN IS THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP.
By Margaret Stowe
ONE of the minor uses of steady employment is that it keeps one out of mischief, for truly an idle brain is the devil’s workshop. An idle woman’s idea of life is dressing, talking, eating, and sleeping. Unfortunately for the world there are many of that class who do nothing else, in fact they are satisfied to do nothing else. If they once could taste the satisfaction, the happiness, and contentment that accompany a mind well employed, all desire for any other attitude would be quenched entirely. Have an aim in life, an occupation in which your thoughts and expression can be of use to others. Make that the motive of your work and it will bring in far greater contentment than to build it on self. No matter how easy a woman’s circumstances may be or how high her social position, she would be happier, more reposeful, and, in consequence, I believe, more healthful, if her mind were occupied in some serious line of thought. When the mind is idle it becomes restless, craving excitement in any form, and it is then that temptation finds easy access and evil thoughts slip in to rule. Be earnest. Do not waste your life in preparing to live. If, as Schopenhauer says, “Every day is a little life,” then be sure and make the most of your lives. A very good definition tells us that “work is human activity adapting itself to some human need—the power to work is the power to lay hands on some part of the universe and make it go.” Work is a potent way of impressing ourselves upon the race. It is our impetus, our activity, our conscious energy exerted toward progress. The brain is most active, most helpful when expressing—given out. You have a debt to pay. What you give out to society, to the world, is a return of gifts that have been made to you. We do not view this side of the question often enough. For generations the race has been working, suffering, thinking, and planning for you, in order that your life may be complete. Begin to-day and make your return. Some people take no thought of money until they have come to the end of it, and many are apt to do that with their time. Do not allow the hours to pass by unemployed. The time will come when you will regret the hours you have wasted, but then the habit of idleness may already have become confirmed and you can not break the bonds. Remember that “lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, but lost time is gone forever.”—Margaret Stowe.