Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00

Subject: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 09:51 AM

If I was allowed to edit 5 minutes here and there out of my day, the 5 minutes I would pick would be the 5 minutes before I start practicing playing, or going running, or writing, or the equivalent. My body and virtually all my brain know that it will be enjoyable once I get started, but there is that 5 minutes that sometimes gets on to an endless loop. In the past 30 years I suppose I have tried everything, and almost nothing works. I have tried sneaking up on it, plunging in, frightening myself, to no avail. The only sure fire thing is to do nothing else than the thing I am avoiding -- not giving that 5 minutes a place to start, since how can I begin something I haven't stopped? -- but who can do that in an ordinary life. Inertia is not even a halfway decent term for it: inertia assumes that the ball is resting and needs pushing. We are talking anti-magnetism: the closer to the task one gets, the worse it gets: an energy hole and hill before things get going. That 5 minutes. Hand me the shears.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Mrrzy
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 10:22 AM

Peter, I know exactly which 5 mn you mean, how very well phrased! I even spend them dithering about taking a shower, which I adore doing, I just apparently either remember being a small child and hating it, or else I must hate getting into the shower, in contrast to being in one... Or calling an author (even one I know I'll enjoy talking to)... or actually DOING the shopping for something to wear to my niblings' mitzvahs next month (I like shopping, why don't I just DO it?)...And you're right, it isn't inertia so much as leftover procrastination momentum, or something! Any physics majors want to take a swipe at the terminology?

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Auxiris
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 11:35 AM

Hello, everyone. . . had a bout with the five minutes you speak of this morning, getting started gardening after coming home from holiday yesterday. It is pretty tough to get going on things sometimes, I agree. Now that the garden is back in shape, I hope I can continue the trend of getting things done this evening and get out the musical instruments!

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Kim C
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 11:39 AM

Oooh, I have that five minutes all the time. But you know what they say..... the first step is the hardest.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 11:47 AM

Those 5 minutes! Indeed. What usually works for me is to make a conscious decision to do something else first, something unimportant, like sweeping the floor. At a certain point, I throw the hypothetical broom into the corner and find myself well into the delayed activity. It's as if I have to turn my head away and sidle in.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 01:06 PM

What I focus on seems to stay alive. So if I am dealing with a 5 minute inertia, the best strategy for me is to not dwell on it.
To add to Peter's statement......'The only sure fire thing is to do nothing else than the thing I am avoiding -- not giving that 5 minutes a place to start, since how can I begin something I haven't stopped?'
When I focus on just Being, I tend to lose track of time in my ordinary life. I find that helps greatly. When I focus on Being in the moment, I just pick up my banjo and play it without much thought. In this way the 5 minute inertia starts to lose its grip on me and begins to fade away into oblivion.

Banjo Buddha Bonnie

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 7,00
From: GUEST,sandytoes
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 06:55 PM

To my dearest friend ever, dang it...I miss you...sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, and hope you will be back on sunday. Please hurry back. I need you, I want you, & mostly... I LOVE YOU!!! Love YOUR best friend, SandyToes