I was thinking last night about the way our society prevents us from living in the moment. I was driving along last night on my way into the city centre to pick up Xenia and I was trying to ecodrive the car.
I turned off the radio and tried to relax into the moment. I noticed the sheer amount of distractions that there are in terms of roadside adverts and the like, the radio was also noticeable by it’s absence. When working on my laptop, the internet is a constant distraction and if I really want to get anything done, I have to unplug the network lead.
I always used to disagree with my previous employers’ policy of not allowing the radio in the office due to the distraction, but now I begin to understand their point of view.
Lewishttp://abarefootman.co.uk says:
It’s interesting that you mention the ABSENCE of radio being noticeable. I can understand how people who are used to the white noise of such radio can have it on without it being a distraction, even to the point of it being a distraction if it is missing. I used to work with CDs on at my work, sometimes I’d be listening to it, sometimes not, but always I’d be working. During the wonderful moments, I’d be singing along doing the work with a great amount of energy, enjoying the music and letting it be a part of the work process. But then I suppose it depends if you can concentrate on what you need to at the right time.
Just offering up the opposite view there. There’s points for and against as ever. Also, is not the noise and the distraction part of the moment as well?
14 August 2006, 2:06 pmablokecalledbloke says:
I agree that the distractions are part of the moment, but I’ve never been too good at multitasking.
I’ve started to think of multitasking as the art of doing two things half as well!
15 August 2006, 4:02 pmLewishttp://abarefootman.co.uk says:
Hahah.. you’re right of course, it’s much easier when there’s less to take in, people don’t seek natural spaces and silent places for meditation and general peace-seeking for nothing… and I guess when we’re after this sense of peace, it’s often found in simplicity, which means less stimulus. At least, in the beginnings while we are learning.
I wrote a post about this subject on my blog actually, the idea that if you get it right, awareness is infinite rather than finite, so it’s not a case of having half on one thing and half on another, but full awareness expanding to encompass both things..
15 August 2006, 9:01 pmIf I might be so bold, I’d like to place a link to it here, some further food for thought: http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/03/29/deepening-awareness/
windlotushttp://kalidance.com/ says:
I notice lack of music when I drive as well; it doesn’t even take long to get into the habit. I’m pretty sure I failed my first driving test because I asked the tester if I could turn the radio on low. I was nervous, and I really wanted it on; better to be a tensed-up, strung-out-on-adrenalin driver instead! It seems it was a bad idea even to ask.
On the other hand, as a comedian whose name escapes me now (Carlin? Sounds like him….) correctly points out, almost everyone, when looking for a street or a building while driving, will turn down the radio. I know I do it, as if somehow my eyesight will magically become sharper
16 August 2006, 9:38 pmwindlotushttp://kalidance.com/ says:
I love serendipity. You can see the comic strip that brought me back around to this discussion here.
24 August 2006, 7:07 pm