I am easily distracted. I was thinking about it recently after a conversation so went looking for a profound quote about it. Instead I found the real essence of distraction in this song lyric from my youth.
Distraction is about stimulation and passion. The young boy is passionate, and then he is passionate again in a different direction. The artist is passionate about oil paints, then is passionate about watercolors, then woodcuts. The engineer is passionate about vibration modalities, then is passionate about tolerances of hybrid substances in super cold environs.
The lessons of distraction are all about mastering what you are passionate about when. Not IF you are passionate, but when you are passionate. Delaying gratification, putting aside the stimulating distraction (or getting rid of it altogether).
That is the battle, isn’t it. What are you distracted by, and how do you combat it? Or do you? Is there something to be said for the element of distraction in life? Can it be a good thing?
Drawing © Marty Coleman
Lyric by John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful – Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind? 1965
