You are wasting time until you realize you aren’t.

🎨 Collage by Justine Anweiler, Mint Syrup, 2025 // Medium: Cut paper, mint leaves and gouache on paper.

I was watching Netflix’s newest crime series, Untamed […]

– And there’s a scene where the rookie cop says, “Probably just wasting time chasing these.” In the context of searching through a database for possible Jane Doe’s.

To which the lead detective says,” Yeah. Wasting time until you realize you aren’t.” [S1:E2]

And it got me thinking about life, the creative process, career breaks, and everything that feels like a discourse from “your path or purpose”. But what if it all leads you there – to the place you are searching for?!

Like the sentiment: what’s meant for you will never miss you.

So the next time you’re doing something because your curiosity, joy, or courage led you there – and there’s a part of that feels silly or shameful for entertaining it – maybe think of that line:

You're wasting time until you realize you aren’t.

The image above is the first piece I did at an art residency in Montmorillon, France 🇫🇷 - in May of this year (2025). Although I was completely in flow, part of me felt like I was avoiding life and "wasting my time". The collage is of the popular French beverage called menthe à l'eau, which I tried on my first day. It consists of mint syrup mixed with water; usually, no ice. The colour of the drink looks straight out of a Marvel movie 💚💚💚

Article FAQs generated by ChatGPT:
1. How does the concept “You’re wasting time until you realize you aren’t” challenge conventional ideas about productivity and purpose?
It challenges the belief that only clearly goal-driven or “useful” activities have value. The phrase reframes so-called “wasted” time as potentially essential exploration, suggesting that the meaning or utility of an experience often reveals itself only in hindsight. Instead of measuring productivity by immediate outcomes, it encourages trust in curiosity, joy, and experimentation as valid parts of a purposeful path.

2. What role does self-perception play in determining whether an activity feels like a waste of time or a valuable experience?
Self-perception can heavily influence whether we see an experience as indulgent, aimless, or meaningful. In the post, even while the author was “in flow” at the art residency, a part of them felt like they were avoiding “real life.” This reveals how internalized cultural or personal expectations about what counts as “worthwhile” can undermine enjoyment or creativity. Shifting self-perception toward trusting intrinsic motivation allows us to see value where we once saw waste.

3. Why might the author’s collage of menthe à l’eau serve as an important metaphor for this idea?
The collage captures a small, joyful, and seemingly inconsequential moment—trying an unusual green drink on the first day of a residency. On the surface, this act might feel trivial or disconnected from “serious” artistic or life goals. Yet, it became the subject of the first piece of art created there, showing how a simple curiosity can spark meaningful creation. It’s a reminder that small, playful moments can become the seeds of significant work or insights.