The Accidental Zen Of Being Scatterbrained

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Abstract

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    </figure></iframe></div></div></figure><blockquote id="2754"><p>I thought to myself, “In the debate of: Which-musician-named-Neil-is-best? I vote Neil Peart every time. Sorry, Neil Young — you are a favorite also, but it isn’t the same.” I felt satisfied with my conclusion regarding the Neils. That’s when I realized I was way off track and nowhere near getting any work done.</p></blockquote><p id="5a4b">This is what happens. I lose focus and the things I get entranced by are usually triggered by something audio-centric. Music. Tapping. Chirping. Singing. Clicking. Scratching. Breathing. Machinery. Animals. Basically everything.</p><p id="dc65">These sounds are all fine and even glorious at times. Usually, sound catches my attention and distracts me into a daydream. However, there are subtle noises that irritate me without warning. I call these audio irritants “<i>snarfles.”</i></p><p id="f5db"><b><i>Snarfles</i></b> are sounds that are detectable during the in-between moments of near-silence. An example of when Snarfles happen is at a movie theater, in between previews. There is always a 3 to 4-second pause where the people are commenting in whisper<i>ish</i> tones about how they'd like to see the movie from the preview, while their friends or dates are reaching into their popcorn bags. Popcorn gets shoveled in snarfling mouths while innocent people nod and snarfle in agreement. The sound of the popcorn, the crinkling bags, and the whispering “We should see that one, Bob!” altogether- its too much for my receptors for whatever reason.</p><p id="0f49">Ther

Options

e is a solution for snarfle induced grumpiness. This is the only instance where I wholeheartedly take the advice “If you can’t beat them, join them”.The one thing that actually counteracts the snarfles of popcorn hell is in fact eating popcorn. Why not? If I am snarfling along with the snarflers I simply do not hear it anymore, nor do I smell it — and thus, I conquer it. When it comes to things I have no control over, I accept that which I loathe, and I am blissful at last.When it comes to things I have no control over, I accept that which I loathe, and I am blissful at last.<h2 id="6bef">The epiphany</h2>I often wish I could have a day of clear, irritant-free thinking. Did I already have that clear mind at the beginning of this story? Did I achieve a state of highly-coveted blankness — only to brush it away as being unfocused? I don’t know. I still wish my barking dog and my loud teenager would suddenly start playing One Rainy Wish by Jimi Hendrix instead of barking and shrieking at game consoles. But then, my moments of forgetfulness might not be as easy to achieve. Perhaps being overwhelmed is a stepping stone to achieving a state of meditative calm.<figure id="5320"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*B5agGyROIs9a_TrZb6vuXA.jpeg"><figcaption>Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/johnhain-352999/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=954789">John Hain</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=954789">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>I think I might have just discovered a shortcut to a blissfully blank mind. It is indeed, snarfles. I might have to tell the monks about this discovery. Snarfles aka annoyances could very well be the reason for the blankness I experience — and could be the shortcut to a Zen state that so many spiritual practitioners strive to achieve.Thanks for reading. Much love. Snarfle on.</article></body>

What seems like burnout may just be blissfully blank.

Mystified by the blankness in my mind, I am baffled. What was I on a mission to write about before I spaced out? It is funny how monks and aspiring zen practitioners try their whole lives to achieve a state of blankness, and here I am experiencing it a couple of times a week. I have been doing so for as long as I can remember. Should I tell the spiritual gurus of the world that the secret to a blank mind is to fill it first with all kinds of crazy ideas to the point of short-circuiting the whole show? A mind that overflows is sure to lead to a blank stare at least.

Which brings me back to my personal state of being puzzled.

How did this happen again? Let me think back to five minutes ago.

Five minutes ago:

Rather than typing words with my keyboard to produce awesome written material, I procrastinated. Again. Accidentally.

I tapped lightly with the end of my green permanent marker to a rhythm in my head. I tapped wildly — but perfectly, I swear — in tiny drum rolls that would make anyone want to dance. If they were cool. I added a second hand for the bass drum effect and before I realized what I was doing, I had become a mini reincarnate of Neil Peart. May he rest in peace.

I thought to myself, “In the debate of: Which-musician-named-Neil-is-best? I vote Neil Peart every time. Sorry, Neil Young — you are a favorite also, but it isn’t the same.” I felt satisfied with my conclusion regarding the Neils. That’s when I realized I was way off track and nowhere near getting any work done.

This is what happens. I lose focus and the things I get entranced by are usually triggered by something audio-centric. Music. Tapping. Chirping. Singing. Clicking. Scratching. Breathing. Machinery. Animals. Basically everything.

These sounds are all fine and even glorious at times. Usually, sound catches my attention and distracts me into a daydream. However, there are subtle noises that irritate me without warning. I call these audio irritants “snarfles.”

Snarfles are sounds that are detectable during the in-between moments of near-silence. An example of when Snarfles happen is at a movie theater, in between previews. There is always a 3 to 4-second pause where the people are commenting in whisperish tones about how they'd like to see the movie from the preview, while their friends or dates are reaching into their popcorn bags. Popcorn gets shoveled in snarfling mouths while innocent people nod and snarfle in agreement. The sound of the popcorn, the crinkling bags, and the whispering “We should see that one, Bob!” altogether- its too much for my receptors for whatever reason.

There is a solution for snarfle induced grumpiness. This is the only instance where I wholeheartedly take the advice “If you can’t beat them, join them”.

The one thing that actually counteracts the snarfles of popcorn hell is in fact eating popcorn. Why not? If I am snarfling along with the snarflers I simply do not hear it anymore, nor do I smell it — and thus, I conquer it. When it comes to things I have no control over, I accept that which I loathe, and I am blissful at last.

When it comes to things I have no control over, I accept that which I loathe, and I am blissful at last.

The epiphany

I often wish I could have a day of clear, irritant-free thinking. Did I already have that clear mind at the beginning of this story? Did I achieve a state of highly-coveted blankness — only to brush it away as being unfocused? I don’t know. I still wish my barking dog and my loud teenager would suddenly start playing One Rainy Wish by Jimi Hendrix instead of barking and shrieking at game consoles. But then, my moments of forgetfulness might not be as easy to achieve. Perhaps being overwhelmed is a stepping stone to achieving a state of meditative calm.

I think I might have just discovered a shortcut to a blissfully blank mind. It is indeed, snarfles. I might have to tell the monks about this discovery. Snarfles aka annoyances could very well be the reason for the blankness I experience — and could be the shortcut to a Zen state that so many spiritual practitioners strive to achieve.

Thanks for reading. Much love. Snarfle on.

The shortcut to enlightenment might start with things that annoy you.

The Accidental Zen Of Being Scatterbrained

What seems like burnout may just be blissfully blank.

The epiphany