Magical thinking.
You know, that thing you did when you were a kid.
Thinking on Christmas Eve, "If I go to bed earlier that will make it Christmas sooner."
"If I wish hard enough for a puppy, I'll have one by next week."
"If I close my eyes really hard, I'll vanish and I won't have to finish my math test."
The idea behind magical thinking, of course, is that by thinking something, believing something, that it can be so. It's a concept that pervades in children, at least until someone tells them that the world doesn't work that way (or the first time they don't manage to vanish by wishing themselves out of a math test).
While I don't necessarily believe in magical thinking in the childhood sense, I still find myself sometimes engaging in the behaviors that go with it. "If I do this right now, that will happen." Sometimes it feels a little bit like craziness. Other times it's just liberating to revel in the silliness, the irreverence of it.
That's my random thinking for the night. It was, of course, brought on by an episode of magical thinking. "If I go to bed early, I'll be able to go home sooner." Not exactly, but I might be better rested when I leave for the airport.
Happiness/ Gratitude List, 15 October 2008:
- A nice, low-stress day. Our session that I co-moderated went very smoothly and we had great topics for people to discuss. It was a relief to have it done.
- Getting to spend a few minutes with Herndon. It was nice to be reminded of how much respect he has for me- and has had for a while now.
- A wonderful (and fun) supper with Amy before I sent her on home. Fabulous Italian food in North Beach. I probably ate too much (dessert was over the top), but it was worth the trip.
- Packing to go home. It's time. I'm ready. The meeting- and San Fran- have been great, but I miss home. I miss my bed. I miss kitties.
See you from the Wasatch....
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