Ideas are everywhere
Everybody walks past 1,000 ideas every day.
The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them.
~ Carson Scott Card
Writers and journalers often find themselves staring at a blank page wondering where to begin. Sometimes, it helps to jot down thoughts when things happen. They don't have to be fully formed, or have a nice-wrapped-in-a-bow conclusion of deepiosity.
Sometimes it's good to simply jot down the ideas you walk by during your day.
Here are a few I walked by today:
Two different experiences with cashiers at two different stores in the stretch of about an hour: The woman at the cheese shop was smiling and bouncing to the music piped in the store. The woman at ShopRite barely looked at me, grunted (no joke, she really grunted) in response to my Hi, how are you?, and looked perturbed as I fished in my wallet for change. The contrast was incredible. I wonder why people act cranky when it's so much easier – and people tend to respond generously – when you lead with lightness. (And yeah, you can lead from behind a cash register ... )
Commercials about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups make me want Reese's Peanut Butter Cups even when I don't really want Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Effective advertising is fascinating. (I did not succumb to said effective and fascinating advertising ... this time.)
People can get really passionate when talking about their coffee preferences. (Me? Dunkin Donuts ... and yes, I buy the beans and grind them at home ...)
When I have a song stuck in my head Mairzy Doats can make it go away. It worked today. (And don't ask what was stuck in my head or it might come back…)
Christmas-themed advertising began before Halloween again this year. On the upside, I've seen a few mentions on social media about "giving the gift of concern/compassion" by buying hand-made crafts, supporting local businesses, and gifting local services to keep dollars local. I could get behind that.
Had a colleague take something personally that wasn't really about them today. Watching this person lash out with frustration and helplessness was hard for me to be with. I noticed how often my natural inclination is to take it on and feel badly – as though I have to fix it (even when I know it wasn't my "fault," or mine to fix). I wonder if this is a woman thing. Or a woman thing when confronted with a pissed off man thing? (Or a codependent thing? All of the above?)
Not all of these ideas I've "walked by" need to be fleshed out, but noticing/paying attention, and writing stuff like this down is good practice when you’re paying attention to your life in an effort to better understand yourself, and make the most of your days.
It can help you get more present to your life, and build a clearer understanding of what matters most to you.
Try this at home: Name a few ideas that you walked by today.
