“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.”
Marie Curie
- Choose an ordinary activity like brushing your teeth, getting dressed, making breakfast.
- Pay attention only to what you are doing while doing this activity.
- Avoid multitasking. Look at the steps you take, what comes first, second and third.
- Reflect on the task and the objects involved in the task, Ask yourself why?
- Reflect on the order you do things.
- Reflect on how it feels.
- If you wander off, bring it back to what you are doing.
Extra Points: Send me quick note of what you noticed by IG, DM or email unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
This develops Lateral Thinking…
Lateral Thinking: is a straightforward, logical thinking process that must follow steps in order. It requires that you follow a mode of thinking, one way or another, to end up in a new place. When solving Math problems, you tend to use lateral thinking.
Comments
MON:
this all happened yesterday and today!
How to Close a Pool Cover
1. It’s summer in Madrid. The kids are complaining because the pool water is too hot. This is ironic, since you just spent 20,000 euros and six months remodeling what was previously referred to as an unusable icebox.
Thanks to the remodeling, the pool now has: a shallower section, smooth new tiles, a heater system connected to recently installed solar panels, and a 10,000 euro pool cover.
All of which has made the pool water too hot.
2. Your youngest child is learning to swim. He’s athletic for his age since he was a fetus. In a week of classes he can (mostly) hold his own.
Your four-year old is also adventurous and has been known to get himself into precarious situations.
3. It’s summer in Madrid and the thermometer reads a dry 38 degrees Celsius.
Part of which has made the pool water too hot.
4. It’s been determined by the family: the most effective way to cool the pool down is to leave the pool cover open overnight.
5. Earlier this morning, Jose, the gardener, delivered a story:
In a house in a nearby neighborhood, an older sibling opened the pool fence. When he walked out, the fence didn’t close. An unknown amount of time later his younger brother walked through the open gate, fell (or jumped?) into the water, and sank to the bottom of the pool, drowning.
The boy was one and a half years old.
There were no witnesses.
6. It’s been determined by the family: despite the horrific story, the most effective way to cool the pool down is to leave the pool cover open overnight.
7. Reluctantly, you agree, second-guessing this decision about a dozen time.
As you’re about to fall asleep, your husband reminds you again about the boy.
8. The next morning, you find your four-year-old boy happily playing Playmobil in the living room.
9. According to the gardener, the child’s mother is still in the hospital.
10. It is 9:51am and you’re late to your last dance class before summer. You remember how the pool cover is open and decide to close it. Yes, this means sacrificing some dance time, but who needs the warm-up anyway?
You run to the deep end of the pool and turn the key to the left, which is the wrong direction. Wonder why you always do this, then turn the key right. Hear the motor running. See the cover moving across the pool, guaranteeing everyone’s safety while you dance (presumably). Think about how ironic it is that you have to hold the key all the until the pool cover closes, but not when it opens. The sun is hitting your head. Think about the fact that you’re late to dance class.
11. In Zielo, the shopping mall where dance class is held, a lady in the elevator laughs while pressing all the buttons. “I never know which floor is mine, and I come here a lot!” she says. Another woman is there and she is laughing too. You are not laughing. The only thing you’re doing is thinking about the fact that you’re late.
12. Run into dance escool and notice the receptionist there, which seems strange.
Hear her ask: “where exactly are you going?”
Discover that adult dance classes ended on june 23rd (last week).
13. Think about going back home, and how this was all a waste of time. Change your mind and go to a café, where you sip a hot americano.
14. In the afternoon, play with your kids in the pool. Hear them complain about how the pool water is still too hot.
15. Picture the boy in the pool, the woman in the hospital. Consider how lucky you all are to be alive, in this very breath.
ISA: Making coffee
Loved this exercise!!!
Systematic way to make coffee that in fact brings pleasure with each step. Enjoyed reflecting on them.