In the War for My Mind, Relaxation Never Stood a Chance.
Picture Yourself in This Scenario
You and another person are sitting around, say first thing in the morning. A topic comes up that leads to a question neither of you know the answer to at the moment. One of you will file that question away and sometime in the coming days likely will look it up online. It is in a category of mull it over and when it is convenient, look it up. After all, its early. We have not even had a morning cup of coffee yet.
The other of you is seized by the question, wondering what the answer might be and what other questions that may lead to answering. That person gets up, goes to find a smart phone or other device, looks up the answer, and announces the answer, all within minutes of the start of the process.
In the wisdom of age, I have come to realize that on such matters, there are two definite types of people – those that generally file away the question, those in immediate hot pursuit. Readers of this blog will not be surprised to know that I find myself deeply embedded in that second scenario. Where are you in this setup?
Two Approaches to Life in General – Both Valid but So Different
These tendencies tend to translate into other aspects of life, I have noticed. As a member of the Let’s Find Out Now fraternity, I am inclined to take on a task as soon as I can. Some things, for sure, are better left to marinate a bit, to soak up some reflection and meditation. But that is different than just putting things off.
I find that I carry about in my little brain a constantly updated checklist of things to be done. Sometimes out of a sense of obligation, but more often from a sense of curiosity or satisfaction, I want to check things off that list. For me, that is infinitely more satisfying than simply relaxing. For me at least, this is a good thing. I like the mindset that comes with this approach.
But there are downsides. Sometimes such an attitude leads to acting too quickly. Better to let things sit a bit in some cases. And it is more difficult to actually disengage and relax. I find that when I go on a personal retreat it takes me about a day or so to truly clear my head. More on a daily basis, I started meditating some time ago to get that same head clearing effect. Otherwise, I am always going through the checklists and the rolodex (Remember those? Anyone still have an actual rolodex these days? Yes, they still make them. I just checked).
I find it interesting that the healthiest relationships between two people or two groups tend to be those that have both traits – one eager to drive on, one more inclined to take extra time. Having both present makes for a good balance more often than not.
The Power of the Extended Self
In my view, this mindset is less about getting things done than it is about perpetual curiosity, although both elements are present. I well remember the first time I assumed command of a military unit that included a full staff. I thought at the time that this presented an amazing opportunity to, in a sense, extend my mind and reach in hundreds of ways.
And so it was. No one on any of my staffs through the years ever got bored. I always had questions, tasks, and challenges in the mix for all of them. I loved having those resources and being able to use them to discover new things and get things done effectively. In many ways, the internet gives us all that capacity for Extended Self.
Lots to Hate, But Now a Word of Praise for the Internet
We all complain a lot about the internet, and its bastard child social media. As well we should. There is much to fret and fume about. But lest we forget, this thing is a wonder that has changed the world forever, often in powerfully good ways. Finding information is likely at the top of that good news list (with due cautions as to evaluating what is found).
The internet started as a connective system for some technical types, developed under DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). DARPA, by the way, is a most fascinating organization itself. Go look it up. I remember the earliest days of the internet. Pretty limited and difficult to use, but even then, the potential was obvious. Then Tim Burners-Lee came along and invented the world wide web, which he and his colleagues simply gave away to the world.
He would be the first to say it has all not turned out as they had hoped, but it would be short sighted to say that the benefits have been other than enormous. You and I have at our fingertips more information and connection than anyone could have possibly imagined only a generation ago. The reality and the potential are staggering.
I admit for all the frustrations and risks the internet entails currently, I roll in it daily. Several times a day I poke around for ideas, history, and information. The world is at my fingertips. Just amazing. Of course, one could also spend a day lost in cat videos, but to each his/her own, eh?
A Conversation with DaVinci – and You
I have fantasized about having a conversation with someone like Leonardo DaVinci. could show him the power of the internet. I would ask him what he would like to ask this new wizard. Just imagine what a mind like that could do with a tool like that. There likely are such minds doing just that today. Match up that potential with the best of ever developing artificial intelligence, and whole new worlds are conjured up.
How about you? Have you thought about what the internet can do for you, what paths lie undiscovered? What questions and connections await your keystrokes? Maybe it would be a good thing once in a while to tell Relaxation to take a break itself. You and your Curiosity have some trails to explore. Go for it.
Bill Clontz
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