Sunday, November 25, 2012

Reflections on not thinking

The beach is not a place to work; to read, write or to think.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
I've always found it hard to turn off my brain.  This has been handy on long distance drives (like between Atlanta and Austin) where I could really chew over ideas.  The down side has been sleepless Oh Dark Thirty episodes of sitting up with a Brain that won't spin down for the night.  Been more than a couple of those over the last few years.

And yet I find that this trip has seen my brain sort of shut down for an extended time.  I'm not sure if it's for an overhaul, an upgrade (yeah, as if), or just to catch its second wind.  Perhaps it's been not having the kids here, or the dogs, and so there's not a sequence of duty-duty-duty, of a day filled to overflowing with things that must needs be done.


Instead, I find that I have this.  And my brain is beginning to untwist, like a protein molecule uncoiling as it de-natures.  It's a surprisingly (to me) enjoyable feeling.

Blogging will likely not be up to par, because my brain is right now out for a moonlight walk on the beach.  I dare say that it'll be back in time to go back to Atlanta.  Hope so.

5 comments:

Azmrmacs said...

I tend not to let my mind wander like you do. It's too young to be out late and tends not to return without adult escort and urging.

Rev. Paul said...

While it's a bit harder to concentrate these days, I still can't turn mine off ... except on vacation. Then I can cheerfully spend several days thinking about nothing except whatever I'm reading.

Dave H said...

Since you're off-site, I suspect you're not getting the triggers that stimulate the duty-duty-duty drumbeat. That's what vacations are for, after all.

Having a charming lady to distract you from your routine thoughts is just the icing on the cake.

Now quit posting and get back to vacationing. We're not paying you to work.

Anonymous said...

if'n you like Anne Morrow Lindbergh, do treat yourself to "North to the Orient" - a very enjoyable read.

What a lady.

Borepatch said...

Anon, I'll see about reading that one next vacation.