Stay Where You Are
I was driving to work today, and the song "Stay Where You Are" by Ambulance LTD was playing on my ipod. I have listened to this song countless times, but this morning it had a different message for me.
"Stay Where You Are"
It was speaking to my thoughts. My mind is so often running over things I've done and possible outcomes of the future. At times, my mind is so full of this "time travel" that I get so fooled by it and think that I am there. I start analyzing things and thinking of "how I should have done this" or "how I should do that" or "what would be the best thing for me to do?"
Sometimes this can be constructive, if it applies to problem solving directly related to work, or planning. practical things like birthday parties. But more than often, it's just downright annoying. It serves little purpose but to make me anxious and irritated, possibly also irritating to others who I come in contact with while in my little "time travel mind games."
"Stay Where You Are"
The message was loud and clear to me this morning. Where was I in fact? I was in my car, driving to work. That's where I was. Listening to a song. Hopefully observing the road conditions as that would contribute to save driving.
It was so simple. It's overwhelming to "time travel." You've seen time travel movies? There's many theories behind different movies, but there's a running theme: you travel to the past, it's complicated. You travel to the future, it's complicated. One thing thoughts can't accomplish that a time machine can: if you travel to the past in a time machine, you may be able to change something that happened that would affect the future. And when you travel to the future, you may be able to affect your past.
This does not work with thoughts. Thoughts cannot change the past. They also cannot affect future outcomes (other than simple things like "oh I'd like to eat meatloaf tonight" and if all goes well, you may go to the store, cook the meatloaf and eat it). But the thoughts cannot change or accurately predict the future.
As of this year on Earth, we do not have time machines. If anyone has one, they are certainly keeping it a secret.
So our thoughts are all we have.
In all honesty, I asked myself this morning, where do I feel most comfortable and safe? Ruminating over past events, making up possible events of the future...or....or.....where I am right now?
The answer was clearly right now.
I think the idea of "being present" and "being in the now" has run through our culture for a while now. There's a ton of books on it, people make a lot of money speaking about it, and some people actually get it and practice it.
But I need some other sort of reminder. I've read some of the books. I've watched the speakers on you tube. I've read the articles. Doesn't mean my mind is racing any less.
I need a guide, and today, it was "Stay Where You Are." And, in that moment, that was indeed where I wanted to stay.
"Stay Where You Are"
It was speaking to my thoughts. My mind is so often running over things I've done and possible outcomes of the future. At times, my mind is so full of this "time travel" that I get so fooled by it and think that I am there. I start analyzing things and thinking of "how I should have done this" or "how I should do that" or "what would be the best thing for me to do?"
Sometimes this can be constructive, if it applies to problem solving directly related to work, or planning. practical things like birthday parties. But more than often, it's just downright annoying. It serves little purpose but to make me anxious and irritated, possibly also irritating to others who I come in contact with while in my little "time travel mind games."
"Stay Where You Are"
The message was loud and clear to me this morning. Where was I in fact? I was in my car, driving to work. That's where I was. Listening to a song. Hopefully observing the road conditions as that would contribute to save driving.
It was so simple. It's overwhelming to "time travel." You've seen time travel movies? There's many theories behind different movies, but there's a running theme: you travel to the past, it's complicated. You travel to the future, it's complicated. One thing thoughts can't accomplish that a time machine can: if you travel to the past in a time machine, you may be able to change something that happened that would affect the future. And when you travel to the future, you may be able to affect your past.
This does not work with thoughts. Thoughts cannot change the past. They also cannot affect future outcomes (other than simple things like "oh I'd like to eat meatloaf tonight" and if all goes well, you may go to the store, cook the meatloaf and eat it). But the thoughts cannot change or accurately predict the future.
As of this year on Earth, we do not have time machines. If anyone has one, they are certainly keeping it a secret.
So our thoughts are all we have.
In all honesty, I asked myself this morning, where do I feel most comfortable and safe? Ruminating over past events, making up possible events of the future...or....or.....where I am right now?
The answer was clearly right now.
I think the idea of "being present" and "being in the now" has run through our culture for a while now. There's a ton of books on it, people make a lot of money speaking about it, and some people actually get it and practice it.
But I need some other sort of reminder. I've read some of the books. I've watched the speakers on you tube. I've read the articles. Doesn't mean my mind is racing any less.
I need a guide, and today, it was "Stay Where You Are." And, in that moment, that was indeed where I wanted to stay.
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