"في البطالة يوجد يأس دائم"

The core idea here is that when you’re idle, not doing anything meaningful or productive, you often feel a sense of ongoing hopelessness. It’s like a cloud of despair that just hangs over you, never really going away. This feeling stems from the lack of purpose or direction that comes with idleness.

Historically, this idea has been around for ages. Philosophers like Seneca and writers like Henry David Thoreau touched on similar themes. In ancient times, humans were always busy—hunting, gathering, building things. Idleness wasn’t really an option. Fast forward to today, and even though our survival doesn’t depend on constant activity, our mental well-being often does.

Picture this: You’ve got a whole weekend with nothing planned. At first, it sounds great—no responsibilities, no deadlines. But as the hours tick by, you might start to feel restless. By Sunday night, you’re in a funk. Why? Because without anything to engage you, your mind starts to wander into darker territories. This is idleness leading to despair in real-time.

Take my friend Mike, for example. He got laid off from his job a few months back. At first, he enjoyed the unexpected break—going to the gym, binge-watching shows, sleeping in. But gradually, he felt more and more down. He wasn’t doing anything constructive, which led to a sense of worthlessness. Eventually, he started volunteering at a local food bank. It wasn’t a job, but it gave him a reason to get up in the morning. Helping others gave his life a renewed sense of purpose. Mike’s story shows how fighting idleness can combat that gnawing despair.

So, how do you apply this wisdom? Start small. Find activities that give you a sense of accomplishment. It doesn’t have to be a huge project. Maybe it’s as simple as taking a walk every morning or picking up a new hobby—something that gets your brain and body moving. The key is to keep yourself engaged.

Imagine you’re stuck in a rut, feeling that perpetual despair creeping in because you’re not doing anything. Your job feels meaningless, and your weekends blur into Netflix marathons. You decide enough is enough. You sign up for a pottery class. At first, you’re terrible—your pots look more like lumps of clay. But you keep at it. Slowly, you get better. You meet people in the class. You start looking forward to it every week. That idleness? It’s gone, replaced by a new sense of purpose and, dare I say, joy.

It’s all about finding what works for you. Maybe it’s a new hobby, volunteering, or setting small goals. Whatever it is, keep moving. Don’t let idleness take over. It’s a sneaky thing, but once you recognize it, you can take steps to combat it.

In a nutshell, staying busy in meaningful ways keeps that perpetual despair at bay. So go ahead, find your ‘thing’ and dive in. You’ll be glad you did.