Respite or Escape

In the way we spend our time, there are two basic types of things we do; that which we should do and that which we would like to do.  It's a good day when what we should do and what we  would like to do are the same and we move toward the fulfillment of our dreams.

There is, however, an insidious activity, or two or three or more, in which we engage that is completely and totally a waste of time.  Doing it for a break, a respite, is one thing but often these activities are those in which we get lost, for sometimes hours, and when we finish there is nothing to show for it.

They are in a category by themselves, escapes  We of course like to do them or we wouldn't but sometimes the allure of doing them gets hold of us and before we know it we are involved where we shouldn't be.  It is so much easier to make an escape than do what would be more constructive and even profitable.

So the big question is why?  For one they are enjoyable.  Some give a sense of accomplishment; such as solving a Sudoku puzzle or Crossword puzzle, others entertain, such as a YouTube video or a scroll through Facebook, still others provide for social contact such as an Email, a phone call, or even a face to face chat with another.

One thing they all have in common is that they are readily available and convenient.  There is no planning or preparation involved, there is no result that must be achieved, there is only the engagement of the device or the "hello" to another and we are off and running.

Since there is no result that must be achieved, there is no fear of failure or unmet anticipation of success.  Avoiding the need for a specific and good performance we can get lost in the activity itself.

This creeps into practice, such as at the pool table shooting balls without proper attention to the shot.  It can happen on the driving range at the golf course.  I've done it and have seen others do it; stand there, shoot the ball, it goes where ever and shoot again, and again.  In running, they call it "junk miles," in riding, they call it a "trail ride,"  mindless activity.

In our Time Utilization grid, these activities are not urgent nor important.  Recognizing them and curtailing participation in them to a "time-out" is the necessary action to be taken.

The dream of our ideal is important because one of our more cognizant persona will recognize the distraction and call it to the attention of  Director who will then reorganize the activities and engage in those that would advance the realization of that dream.

This, of course, is not the only purpose for having a dream of our ideal.  Other equally important or even more important aspects of having a dream are elucidated  in other essays.

Engaging in escapes may be a hold over from when we were young and forming our patterns of thinking, moving, and feeling.  Since we had no life dream to guide our activities, we simply did whatever we enjoyed and used the many iterations as learning experiences.  And since we had no schedule we could keep up the trial and error until successful.

As we approached maturity, we were educated by those in positions of authority and our activities became more directed to achieve results, achieve our dream.  But "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," so we occasionally we revert back to our pre-schooling days for a break in the intensity of performance.  Once refreshed, we should go back to the grind.  It's when we don't give it up that the trouble ensues, the time is wasted and never recovered.

The moral of the story is obvious and not lost on me.  I'm off now to achieve my dream.