Daydreaming

Hip-hop had the most accidents?! Interesting. And Golden Oldies and folk song listeners having the least amount of tickets is not surprising - it is more laid back, relaxing music. I've tried to drive to Vanessa Mae - a violinist who took classics and rewrote them - it is better for waking up! not for driving! That is a ticket just waiting to happen!

For some reason I’m having trouble getting started this week, Don. I keep finding my mind way out in left field somewhere watching the dandelions. Maybe it is because we spent such a busy summer, lots of company, lots of “stuff” to accomplish and I didn’t get my usual slow down drift with the summer breeze time. I didn’t get to take my ‘dream’ time, or I was doing it wrong – I was trying to solve problems and I was usually in public areas surrounded by lots of other people moving around at a frenetic pace. In other words, I was distracted from my distraction!

I read somewhere recently that we daydream about 1/3 of our waking time, and we do it in snippets – “If I could I would…”, “I’ll tell her a thing or two…”, “I wish I’d said…” – that last at most 2- 3 minutes. But we do them constantly throughout the day. The question becomes – was the “daydream” effective?

Don, did you know there is effective and ineffective daydreaming? This concept totally blew me away! According to Joh Methoen, ineffective daydreaming is focusing on evils in the world (you can’t solve them), problems in your own life (you’re too close to them), or just about any kind of “trouble.” (Sounds like the daydreams I had most of the summer – no wonder I feel creatively tapped out!)

Effective daydreaming should make you smile. Not a vindictive smile, just a pleasant “I haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you?” kind of smile. And it is better to do it in a secure safe place. The best time? Just before lunch, during a dull conversation. Methoen also suggests that the best topics can range anywhere from how to be a better person to good things happening to loved ones / friends (how you would celebrate their good news) to the absurd like what kind of fast food would an alien eat or what do you think flowers think of humans?

These are just gigglers – but what they do is totally divert the brain from its tirade; it becomes a way to get over too much stress.  It is that breathe that causes us to rethink our perspective.

I watch children play when I get a chance, and I notice that many times their games are daydreams. I remember my own kids turning a slide into a space ship and the saw horses into real horses with names. I think I most admire my grandson. People laugh because he has such a vivid imagination, and almost anything he has in his hands at the moment he pops into “Jakey-land” becomes a prop. It reminds me of Calvin and Hobbs only a lot more pleasant.

I wish I could go where grandson goes sometimes, but recent surveys are beginning to show that older folks don’t daydream as much as “younger generations”. The reasons are jumbled around with daydreaming has to do with anticipating the future and older folks don’t have as many “bright perspective changing” daydreams.  I’m on the fence with this idea. I think it is more likely that people over 60 do more ineffective daydreaming; we forget how to use our minds to create a breathing space to just a few minutes to give ourselves a break. Maybe we've just forgotten how to smile.

Riddle Cave time!
You're right! an e-reader. Actually, my Kindle. Just a kindle - not the kindle fire. My husband loves his ipad! Good luck on your replacement!
I haven't been able to crack your last riddle  - Uncle! she cried!
but here is mine.

Snap for immortality

Sports or portraits

Nothing when the battery goes dead

Download feels eternal

Just a reminder! Science Fiction Fantasy Transport emagazine is still on $.99 until next week!
AND!!
New writing contest at sowrite.us.com - check it out and participate!

 

Have a great daydream this week folks!

Carolyn

 

Methoen, J. (6/2013). How to daydream. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22

All images retrieved from google images.com

Fig 1 – Dandelion: Getting Life in Balance retrieved from ruthelsesser.wordpress.com

Fig 2– Imperfection: daydreaming retrieved from imperfection-is-happiness.blogspot.com

 

Fig 3– Poetry Jam: Daydream Believers retrieved from poetryjaam.blogspot.com