What do a pen and paper, a Big Chief Tablet and #2 pencil, or a keyboard and computer all have in common? They are all tools for communication. Sometimes another audience isn't even a consideration. Thoughts chronicled for personal reflection may be the only catalyst for writing it down. Is there anything wrong with writing something "for my eyes only?" How many great thinkers from the past maintained a journal to chronicle their stories?
Okay, so that may have been a subtle ploy on my part to plant seed to the thought that possibly, I am a great thinker. No sooner had I typed those words, than I intuitively knew that tactic was prone to backfire. No one whose synaptic connections are intact will ponder that possibility for a nano-second. Sorry, but no cigar.
Across the years I've spent an inordinate amount of time driving in solitude. The upside to a long commute to work was having downtime to think. I wouldn't call that multi-tasking while I'm behind the wheel, but some may beg to differ.
In the resources of my memory, I recall that the General and I were once traveling to an out-of-town funeral, and she started laughing. Of course, I looked in her direction and asked what was funny. Instead of answering my question, she tossed this question back at me: "Were you talking to yourself?
Was I what? She was delusional or perhaps there was an outside chance that I could have been sorting out words inside my head that I wanted to include in the service. I'm not saying it is true, but I might have somehow gotten my wires crossed and verbalized the content. Surely not, but I wouldn't put my hand on a Bible and swear that it didn't happen.
The General asked me the question and then instead of waiting for a response, she answered it. "Yes – yes you were talking to yourself. I heard you!" She then subtly made an indictment about my mental health status in the form of a question. She asked: "Have you ever considered the thought that you may have serious mental health issues?"
I was speechless, but that wasn't a problem. That, too, was meant as a rhetorical question, because the General didn't wait for a response. She went on to say that when she worked downtown, she noticed a lot of homeless people on the streets.
Many walked down the street or stood on street corners engaged in one-party conversations. I too, have overheard some of those conversations as I've stood on street corners waiting for the light to change. It always felt a little eerie.
I guess you could say that I write for my mental health. Writing is one way that I process information. I've even said that writing is therapeutically important to me. I don't think my mental health issues are serious. I generally work them out by putting words on paper "for my eyes only."
All the BEST!
Don
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