I had to think, to clear my head of the clutter. I've come to understand when it's time to do so, empty my mind of the stuff, to dump it out.
I headed to the range to test some new ammunition I'd made early Saturday; It wouldn't do to make 2,000 rounds only to find they don't cycle in the gun, eject and lock open the slide properly so testing was required...Ten rounds, one in each magazine and four rapid fired. Done. Now I can make the rest. But not now.
It was a wet day, unusual for February when it's usually mid to high 40's (that's pushing on to 120F). It was rainy with low cloud as I turned left out of the range and headed deeper into the hills rather than home; Going nowhere in particular but needing some time to noggin dump.
Sometimes I need to clear my head and a drive in the hills helps to do so; Maybe it's the drone of the tyres on the blacktop or just the countryside speeding by as I drive; It seems to allow clarity of mind...To clear away the stresses or pressure of my every day life.
I ended up driving into a pine forest parking then taking a walk. I saw a few wallabies going about their day, but otherwise it was very quiet, Even my footsteps made little noise as everything was damp underfoot. Silence and fresh air - The perfect place to noggin dump.
What I'm really doing in these moments is detaching - Taking a mental break. Some probably like to do it by filling their time with activities, distractions that fill their time and prevent thought of the everyday issues, but for me I've always needed to avoid things, to vacate my mind of thought and find an emotional centre point. I do it on the farm where I cull sometimes, but driving into the hills works too.
A couple hours later I was back in the big-dog heading to a bakery I know in the small town of Williamstown. There I found a cup of coffee and ham salad sandwich for lunch and sat around watching the world pass by...There wasn't much world passing by though considering the population of the town is only 2,000 people or so. It was sleepy and quiet, just how I like it.
Later that day I was at home doing a few little DIY jobs, just playing around in my workshop, and feeling a little better, more centred and much more relaxed.
I need days like this. Alone. No thought. No phone. No people; They help me connect with myself, find clarity of thought and to re-centre my energy as it get's pushed and pulled this way and that by life, like all of us.
Do you detach from your daily routine and responsibilities and if so how often? What do you do? Walk? cycle? Sit on the beach and watch the sunset? Maybe at a café people-watching. How do you clear your mind of the clutter life accumulates and do you find it a valuable process and helpful to clarify life itself like I do?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
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