Mind Chatter

Right in the middle of my day I looked up from my blaring work computer screen and thought, “I really should clip my toenails.” On the way upstairs, I completely forgot what I was doing because I was thinking of a process chart that I had created last week and had an idea pop into my head.  I also started humming an old aria and stopped mid-level to test out the acoustics of the room before getting upstairs, realizing I needed to dial-in on a call, ran downstairs, and sat once more in front of my blaring computer screen.  All of this happened in about two minutes and I thought, “you have to be kidding me.”

My life is controlled by an Outlook Calendar.  I would be totally and completely lost without it.  I have the usual upcoming meetings listed but also wonderful little tidbits of information like “time to change your contacts” or “don’t forget to revisit that sticky note so you don’t forget about it.”  Of course, each time a reminder comes on a little sound emits from my computer and like a damn Pavlovian dog I practically salivate at the possibility that something that I have COMPLETELY forgotten about will come into my life once more, guiding me down a safer path; one that makes for on-time meetings and clear and comfortable eyes…

The problem with much of this is that my mind for a good 99.99% of the day is in a constant state of chatter. (I don’t think I’ve heard voices yet but I’ll let you know.)  It is constantly going left and right trying to solve the immediate, the future, AND the past.  So today, out of nowhere, I thought, “Grant, you are going to take 20 minutes and do NOTHING.  Absolutely clean out the thoughts, put some headphones on, and listen to one of those meditative tracks.”  #firstworldproblems……

I closed my computer, put my feet up and for 20 minutes, and listened to this little app that promised me clarity and quality of life.  You know what? IT WORKED! (Well, clarity and quality of life is pushing things a little far and I SWEAR I was seeing flashes of color when my eyes were closed but STILL…)

Take 20 minutes, put your feet up, and remember that you are a human being, not a machine no matter what your computer says.  Demand the simpler things and take one second, just one.