"Megan? Did you hear what I said?" (I nod.) (Five second delay.) (Then I shake my head.)
"Megan is a good student but needs to pay a little more attention in class."
"Did you do the minutes of that meeting?" (I answer affirmatively.) (I then seek out another attendee to fill in the blanks of my notes.)
*
I'm a daydreamer.
As a child, a teenager, an adult, a professional, a mum, a wife - I've spent my life living half in this world and half in one of my own.
Of course, this has its hindrances.
It's frustrating for others who think I'm there with them, when I'm really only there physically. Many times each day someone will attempt a conversation with me and I'll have to pretend I was listening to the beginning of the story. Steve will talk about something that was just on television, something we're both watching, and I'll have no idea what he's talking about. My eyes are looking at the screen but my ears are switched off and my thoughts are far, far away.
(Sometimes I wonder if this is why my memory seems so bad - I remember the things I was there for, but when my mind switches over that's the end of any chance of remembering that moment/book/movie.)
I've had to be very conscious of this recently. Someone spoke to me about Mindfulness, and I realised that's what I needed to practice - being fully present when I'm with others or even by myself at times. If I'm playing with my daughter, I need to be there playing with her. If I'm eating a meal with my family, I need to just be there.
It's helped with my state of mind, making me happier in my reality rather than escaping to dreamland all the time. And it's a bit more satisfying for my husband, daughter and friends; it makes me better able to connect with them, and them with me.
Now, I concentrate on being there. Just being in the moment.
Oh, but I do still daydream. I love that in my writing life, daydreaming is just part of the job description. Staring out the window and dreaming things up is not a distraction; it's a necessity. And perhaps it is that, the permission I give myself to drift away at times, that frees me up the rest of the time.
I love to daydream, to see where my mind takes me. I just do it a little less often these days.
8 comments:
I know this feeling so much.
Especially if I have lots on my mind. Some one might be talking to me, I am nodding away, but really I have missed the conversation.
Opps.
I also get bored really quickly and entertain myself with other things to think about.
Oh, me too. Me too!
I have a favourite daydream for a while - can't stop thinking about it - then that eventually gets replaced by another, and I'm often halfway thru them when my children are trying to get my attention.
*sigh*
I'm with ClaireyH...I get bored too and like to entertain myself!
I'm guilty of daydreaming the days away too. Even at work. Especially at work. Probably not such a good idea as I'm manning the checkout, but I find it boring, so send my mind away.
Yep...again, me too!
I used to do it in the classroom when I was teaching. My teacher aide told me and I didn't even realize I was doing it!
Daydreaming must be par for the course when you love writing... Am both a fan of it yet guilty of it when I should be more in the moment. Love what you say about Mindfulness - will endeavour to practice more of that myself...
You know Megan, it's funny you mention this. My daughter received her first report card for her Grade 1 year, just before school holidays about 2 weeks ago and we were very impressed. "Spelling - excellent." (Check) "Writing - excellent." (Check) "Maths" "Art" etc etc all excellent. And then the words came out of the teacher's mouth, like in slow motion and as if I was repeating them with her. "But she has a tendency to daydream." LOL The exact same words were written on my Grade 1 report card. Like Mother, like daughter.
I tend to daydream now only to switch off from the kids, on purpose! You're not alone.
Anne xx
I can so identify with Writing Out Loud....I do it all the time....wonderful photos and reminiscents of my own life.
This post made me laugh, because I daydream way to much. Unfortunately, I daydream most when my math or science teacher is lecturing... oops! But I can stay focused during English class. What can I say? I love to write! My friends make fun of me (in the most loving sort of way) 'cause I read and write for fun in my spare time. Apparently, most teens don't do that? (:
~ No One In Particular
(middleschoolhighschoolandbeyond.blogspot.com)
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