ornoth

List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.

Get a job; got any leads?
Learn a lot in my Flash animation class
Finish three new stories for DargonZine and get the other participants in DZ’s big common story arc to finish their parts
Get the DargonZine poster and biz card designs finalized
Survive the goddamned holiday season

List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.

Linda (The Ex)
Gordo Cur-chaser (college wombmate)
AmyJean (crushness)
Lt. Fairbank (former co-worker, he was a fungi)
Nichols (childhood best fred)

List five things you'd like to learn how to do.

Compassion
Drum (set, hand, all of it)
Draw
Sail
Select men’s clothing (the world’s most elusive skill)

List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).

Many new bikes and cool cycling equipment, and go see the Tour de France!
Many new computers
Renovate the bathroom, replace the electric baseboard heat, fix the hardwood in the entryway floor, re-paint Puggle’s room, buy new appliances, get better lighting, new window treatments, get the A/C inspected, fix the cocktail table finish…
Pay off my mortgage and buy my uncle’s former camp up in Maine
Try writing professionally

List five things you do that help you relax.

Bike
Meditate
Sit in the sun on one of the docks along the Charles River
Go off in the woods somewhere
Snuggle with Puggle the Fuzzle!

What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind?: Typically, I'll go off and find a place to be alone and enjoy nature and the sun. That often means a walk up to one of the docks on the Charles River, where I'll sit in the sun and watch the water. Or a bike ride down to the Arnold Arboretum's "Conifer Path", where I have a particular spot where I'll sit and enjoy the pine meadow and the hillside beneath me. Or, if I want to ride further afield, down to Castle Island, where a radio tower is on a tiny island out in Boston Harbor, connected to the mainland by a long, narrow causeway. But regardless of where, what's important is the quiet contemplation and sense of appreciation that it fosters.
What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands?: Well, I guess the only thing I reliably do upon getting home is check the cat, AIM, and email.
What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells?: In case you didn't read my 8/14 post "Heaven on the Seventh Floor", I don't like most smells, and I particularly hate manufactured smells. One of the few odors that I enjoy is the smell of an evergreen forest on a summer day, experienced first-person.
Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself?: If you want relaxed, then definitely alone. Being with a very small group of close friends can be energizing and exciting, but it's not often 'relaxing'.
What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don't?: First: drumming. I find both hand and kit drumming to be a good emotional release. Second: the city. I derive energy from urban areas: all the interesting people to watch, the beautiful architecture, the energy of youth (particularly here in college-oriented Boston), the vibrancy of a thriving arts community, plenty of nightlife, lots of like-minded people, and it all within walking distance of my own private enclave of peace and quiet.

This one might sound particularly stupid, but if you lived in my head, you'd know that it's a revelation for me.

So I've been unemployed now for five months, but really I've only had the past three weeks to really relax (don't do it/when you want to go to it) because of other things taking up my time. But recently I've been trying to figure out why, now that I have ample time, I still find it difficult to relax (don't do it/when you want to come). And I think I've got a answer, although it probably will sound terribly obvious to you.

You see, I'm one of these people who values productivity. I think people who spend hours commuting are wasting their lives. And I think people who watch television are nothing more than worthless by-products of our overcoming the Darwinian struggle for survival. Movies are pap to tranquilize the masses; intelligent people use their time to create, not to sit around waiting to passively absorb stimulation.

In contrast, I spend my free time in pursuits that require concentration, if not intellectual engagement. I write fiction and critique a lot more. I run an online magazine. I create art. I build Web sites. I drum, cook, and do photography. And don't forget journaling! Literally everything I do requires mental engagement and concentration.

Somehow, it's only now that I realize that even I can't live being 100 percent "on" 100 percent of the time. I need to find ways of shutting the intellect down, to give it time to rest and recharge before diving back in again. I guess it's apparent now because I haven't been on my bike in several weeks, and that was the best way I knew of to relax (don't do it).

I'm sure that the need for non-concentrating relaxation time is second nature and it's a pretty underwhelming revelation to most people. But for me, it really is a big change in how I think about recharging and the value of time.

The funny thing is that I don't have an easy time coming up with "mindless" activities that qualify. Cycling counts, as does seeing live bands, visiting cats, and reading. I suppose socializing would count, if I did it more... That's really about it. I need to spend some time brainstorming other alternatives.

That's all. Just thought I'd capture that thought, since it really isn't a natural one for me.

Entries tagged with relaxation

Friday Five #45

Friday Five #6

Hit me with those laser beams...

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