Distraction—Definition number two in the msn Encarta online dictionary reads-”Amusement: something providing entertainment or amusement; especially something that takes the mind off work or worries and helps relaxation.”
Today I’m celebrating the wonders of distraction! Of course at some time or another we need to face our problems head on and work on solving or accepting them-but we’d sink like a slab of cement in the problem sea, if we didn’t have glorious DISTRACTIONS!
I’m in the midst of filling my day with distractions, letting my mind take a personal day off. It’s been working hard on some tough problems and it’s worn out; so worn out, the issues are blurring in front of its “mind’s eye”. When the blur sets in there is little chance that the conscious level of the mind is going to solve a problem and that the subconscious mind (the great problem solver) needs to be called in to take over.
(Metaphorically I imagine the conscious mind as running on electricity and the sub-conscious mind being the back-up generator.)
So today, I’m turning the circuit breakers off and letting the generator kick in. I’m setting my mind down for a nap, and while it sleeps I’m going to go into mindless mode. Such as I’m doing right now, writing whatever my fingers type on the keyboard. I’m hoping to work on my daughter’s softball scrapbook, fold a load of laundry, and go with my daughter to Target where I plan to buy myself something I do not need. Tonight I think I’ll curl up in front of the TV and watch a mindless show.
Meanwhile, I’ve learned from experience, the brilliance of the sub-conscious mind will most likely have at least created one pearl of wisdom to offer my conscious mind when I set it back to work, rested and ready.
Here’s to distractions! Now, I’m off to mindlessly make the bed, then mindlessly blow dry my hair while I wait for my daughter to wake-up and take us to the oh so marvelously distracting- Target. Happy day, whether your mind is problem solving or napping in distractions!
P.S. As yesterday went on, I came to realize what a challenge it is to distract oneself when ill. Soon after writing this post, my body ran out of steam. I did make my bed and watched plenty of tv, but getting to Target and folding clothes, were too much for yesterday. I learn again that planning has to accompany great flexibility when living with chronic illness, including planning distractions!
I did have a much enjoyed distraction from my youngest daughter. She brought home an areas of intelligence and learning style test from her psychology class. It requires answering many questions. My daughter and I spent over an hour asking eachother questions, then learning about ourselves and each other. It was an unexpected and much enjoyed distraction.
