Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing

Niksen is a Dutch concept that quite literally means “doing nothing,” but it’s more intentional than just zoning out. It’s the practice of allowing yourself to be idle without a goal, productivity pressure, or even a specific form of relaxation, no scrolling, no multitasking, no self-improvement agenda. In a culture that often glorifies busyness, niksen gently pushes back, suggesting that the mind actually benefits from unstructured downtime, where thoughts can wander and settle on their own. It’s less about escaping life and more about creating space within it, giving your brain a breather so creativity, calm, and clarity can quietly resurface.

Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking argues that modern life’s obsession with productivity is actually harming our well-being, and that intentionally “doing nothing” can restore balance. The book explains that niksen isn’t laziness, meditation, or distraction - it’s a conscious pause where you let your mind wander without purpose. Drawing on cultural insights from the Netherlands and research on stress, creativity, and happiness, Mecking shows how stepping away from constant busyness can improve mental clarity, reduce burnout, and even make you more productive in the long run. Ultimately, the book gives practical, everyday ways to incorporate small moments of idleness into work, home, and public life, reframing rest as something valuable rather than something to feel guilty about. 

COPYRIGHT 2007-2026 Patti Friday b.1959.

Vase: A Poetry Collection: A Body Filled With Memory, Desire, and Decades of Womanhood

Vase: Bold, sensual, unflinching. Poems of desire, love, heartbreak, and the fierce power of the female body—celebrating what it holds, creates, and gives.

Suddenly, when faced with endometrial cancer, (Sept. 2025),  it was as if the archive of my life insisted on being seen. The female vessel—the vase that holds so much, creates so much, carries so much—was under threat, and with that came an urgent, electric clarity. My body spoke. My memory stirred. My heart answered.

Vase , by Author Patti Friday, is a daring, intimate collection of poems spanning decades, exploring desire, love, loss, and the fierce, tender power of the female body. Written in a raw, sensual, and sometimes abstract voice, these poems honor the body as vessel, memory, and source of creation, while tracing the joys, heartbreaks, and revelations that shape a woman’s life. From clandestine youthful encounters to mythic reflections on intimacy, Vase celebrates the fullness of living, loving, and being entirely seen.

COPYRIGHT 2007-2025 Patti Friday b.1959.

NEW Canadian Poetry Book for Holiday Gifting 2025 by Author Patti Friday The Pirate Code

Amazon

Dear Friends,

In the last 4 weeks I gathered up almost every poem I'd ever written since 2010.  I'm happy to share with you that all of these poems are now in this new book!

Set your compass for uncharted emotional waters. The Pirate Code is a fiercely imaginative collection of poems that blends nautical mythology with intimate inner voyages. Patti Friday explores courage, desire, rebellion, and the hidden laws that govern every heart. From storm-tossed longing to the quiet anchor of hope, each poem reveals the wild territories we dare to claim as our own. Bold, lyrical, and deeply human—this is a treasure map for anyone navigating life’s restless seas.

Order from Amazon EVERYWHERE! 

Peace Love Create Art Gather,

Patti xo

COPYRIGHT 2007-2025 Patti Friday b.1959.

Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Summary

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality – You are pure consciousness

• Your essence is infinite, creative, and connected to all life.

• Practice: Spend time in silence or meditation daily. Appreciate nature. Connect with your inner self before acting.

2. The Law of Giving – The universe operates through exchange

• Giving and receiving create abundance. Share freely—love, attention, or resources.

• Practice: Compliment someone, offer help, or express gratitude each day.

3. The Law of Karma (Cause and Effect) – Every action has a consequence

• Every choice generates results. Make conscious, mindful choices.

• Practice: Pause before decisions. Ask: “Will this action bring happiness or harm?”

4. The Law of Least Effort – Effortlessness comes from acceptance

• Accept things as they are; don’t resist. Respond instead of reacting.

• Practice: Let go of unnecessary struggle. Focus on actions aligned with love and purpose.

5. The Law of Intention and Desire – Intentions have power

• Thoughts and intentions shape reality. Set clear, positive intentions.

• Practice: Write down your goals and visualize them daily. Release attachment to the outcome.

6. The Law of Detachment – Freedom comes from letting go

• Letting go of control creates openness to infinite possibilities.

• Practice: Accept uncertainty. Trust that life can unfold in ways better than you imagine.

7. The Law of Dharma (Purpose in Life) – Everyone has a unique gift

• Fulfillment comes from using your talents to serve others.

• Practice: Discover your natural strengths. Ask: “How can I contribute?” Align work and daily actions with this purpose.

In short: Chopra teaches that success and happiness arise naturally when we connect with our inner self, live consciously, give freely, and act with love and purpose.

COPYRIGHT 2007-2025 Patti Friday b.1959.

NEW Book 'Wonder Tender' about Creativity, Personal Discovery, Mind, Body & Spirit

Wonder Tender
by Patti Friday

(Order on Amazon)

Wonder Tender is not a faith-based book. It is a reverent one.

For the poets, the deep feelers, the moon-gazers and soul-listeners… this book is for you.

Born from one woman’s spiritual search through many traditions—Wonder Tender is a love letter to those who believe in beauty, mystery, and meaning… but don’t fit into a single box.

Author Patti Friday names a new kind of path: the Wonder Tender.
Someone who walks gently.
Who lives mythically.
Who sees what others rush past and names it sacred.

This book is for those who tend to their lives like gardens, who feel the divine in art, in nature, in rest, in ritual. It is for the multi-faith soul, the spiritually curious, the creative seeker, and the quietly devoted.

Inside you’ll find:

• 18 soulful chapters on themes like presence, myth, creativity, ritual, and compassion
• Reflection prompts, journaling rituals, and creative exercises
• Poetic epigraphs, sonnets, and wisdom for the tender-hearted
• A soft, non-dogmatic space to explore your own spiritual rhythm

If you’ve ever felt too spiritual for the secular world and too questioning for religion.

If you long for a deeper connection to your soul, your senses, and the sacred in the everyday...Then Wonder Tender is your gentle companion, your invitation home.

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Order on Amazon

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Patti Friday is a Canadian Multidisciplinary Artist, Writer, and Photographer with a soulful lens on the everyday sacred. A lifelong seeker, she weaves creativity, nature, and wonder into all she creates. With a background in visual storytelling and a heart rooted in spiritual curiosity, Patti invites others to slow down and see beauty in the ordinary. Wonder Tender is her love letter to those who live gently, feel deeply, and walk through the world with reverence.

COPYRIGHT 2007-2025 Patti Friday b.1959.