Inertia Enigma...

[DDT (12)]

                                                     Inertia Enigma…

This is one of life’s serious conundrums, particularly as it relates to yours truly. Why is it that we want, often even need, to do something, yet we struggle to get off the dime and pull the trigger? This goes way beyond mere procrastination; although, I strongly suspect it is in the same family of predicaments.  I suffer from these…

It usually begins when the light bulb above my head suddenly glows brightly… when I’ve hit upon a great idea. This occurs, I believe, in response to subconscious thoughts of dissatisfaction with being cooped up and grounded for some reason.

Anyway, it is then followed by a strong surge of enthusiasm, a sudden burst of energy, and a not always productive flurry of activity… Then, the pendulum swings back in the other direction…

That’s when the reality side of my persona takes control, and all that practical stuff starts to rear its ugly head. Is the oil in ALI OK? What about the tires? How long has it been since we had a part failure like an alternator, or U-joint, or whatever…, and is there something of that sort to worry about? Where will I go? Where will I stay, yadda, yadda, yadda… It’s enough to crash any bright idea!

So, I retreat to the recliner to ponder… and to nap most of the time. Before you know it, the day is too far gone to do anything, so I decide to revisit this whole enterprise the next morning… Sometimes the cycle repeats itself again… and again…

I remind myself that the only way to constructively deal with these sorts of things is to just go… To face whatever pops up and deal with it the way we’ve done so many times in the past… But what if…? I eventually overcome all of that mental clutter and venture forth… and things almost always work out just fine… So, why is this such a common occurrence with me…?

Perhaps it is natural for us humans to be like this… but I wonder… Did the explorers and discoverers of history suffer from such mental roadblocks? Did ol’ Chris Columbus need a good kick in the pants to motivate him to sail across the ocean? Was Marco Polo really such a curious guy… or, was he perhaps just lost… and frightened? Or worse…

Am I just lazy? Am I one of those couch potatoes who never want to budge from in front of the TV and exert any energy in some productive undertaking? Nah, I don’t buy that for a second! I’ve traveled way too far in life to believe something along that line of reasoning… Still…

Is it my more or less conservative nature…?  My deep down inner need to be sure enough of what I’m doing in order to reduce risks to a tolerable, manageable level…? Am I actually afraid of the unknown? Do I suffer from some form of anxiety to some degree? In the depths of my subconscious heart of hearts do I really like Hillary and/or The Donald? Egad!!! I may have some issues, but I’m confident that ain’t one of them!

Well, I was thinking, hoping for sure, that running through these thoughts and writing them down would lead me to an answer… Not so. I’m right where I began, with a great idea, followed by sufficient ‘objections’ to allow me to remain seated and inactive, but at the same time to feel disappointed that I’m not loading ALI instead of pounding away on the keys on my laptop right now…

I know what to do about this, though… I may not have all of the answers or even know all of the questions, but I do know through vast experience what I can do to produce a happy outcome… Yep, and I’m gonna do it, too… starting right now!!!

DDT

[gregk]

Quit smoking that weed. Ha ha

[Super Santa]

Bruce, you have me figured out to a T.

That speaks so exactly like me I think I need to ponder on it some more.  You have just hit the nail on the head.

Often been called a procrastinator but I like to think I am cautious.  You know, the seven 'P's'.  Proper Prior Planning prevents P Poor Performance.  Or was I just taught to do it right the first time and you won't have to do it again.

Great words to ponder on.  Thanks again for sharing.

[solo1]

Bruce, how true.
I've always considered my self a detail man. At work, at home, everywhere.  Everything must be planned to the infinite detail.  The only time that I deviated from that was when my wife and I were driving through Wisconsin and I had planned to stay at a motel in Rhinelander............but I didn't call ahead.  The whole region was full up.  Antique show and a big HD rally.  We ended up driving to the UP of Michigan and getting the last room at a motel in a small town at 11PM.  Unfortunately, my inclination for detail was reinforced.

Now, it's even worse. My wife is gone and I procrastinate, way too much.  Age related 'What If' has reared its ugly head.  Fortunately my bucket list was small and I've only shorted myself on one item. A Valkyrie trip around Lake Superior. Never got it done. 

However, the good point is that even the relatively short drive to Corydon a few weeks ago in the Miata was satisfying to me.  So age compensates by setting the sights in a different manner.

[sixlow]

I can relate to all that, sometimes i just need a good suggestion on where to go.
Hey Bruce come on over to St. Aug and we will go have a nice meal somewhere. ! 

[Valkorado]

Did Columbus lay awake at night worrying about being capsized by a kraken?

The only thing to fear... 
is U-joint itself!

[Hook#3287]

My father used to call me a  "procrastinator"

I never knew what it meant, so one day I thought I'd look it up, then I thought, naw, I'll do it tomorrow.

Bruce, I think you're right, it is humane nature to have feelings we need to do more, some go back to the couch and some go pack a bag.

[DDT (12)]

WOW! I'm in some really fine company it appears! Thanks to all y'all for fessing-up and sharing your own plight... Misery does love company, I reckon... I, on the other hand, have undertaken the cure... Well, at least the tonic for this particular bout of 'sedentary avoidance'.

I just finished-up my last post on the other thread this morning, then went and finished loading the new bag... then (drum roll here) I carried all that out to our girl and strapped it all on! Yep, I was feeling so good about myself right about then, that I nearly wet my pants!

I'll get into this more on another post... probably... But, for now let me just say that ALI and I are back at it... doing what we do... doing what we love! See y'all down the road someplace...

DDT

[Oss]

I have heard tell that fear is your ego trying to hold you back

That it does not want you to challenge whatever it is that you want to change or do

It is not real like monsters and dragons but in your mind its enough to keep you where you are

Being a stubborn person can be used to your advantage to conquer fear and that inertia enigma

Ive been told that I can be stubborn, its how I complete a ride when
my fear rears itself up going down a switchback full of wet leaves or when skiing I accidentally find myself in a mogul field or how I stay with a case that I think is not going so well.  Sometimes all you have to do is keep showing up and be prepared like Early Bird says

Yes,  its good to benefit from Once in motion, you want to stay in motion, even if its just rocking on that chair but when at rest you want to stay there in spite of that desire for the open road.

Fortunately as long as you keep waking back up from those naps there is hope

As always Bruce that was an insightful missive.  Keep em up.

[hubcapsc]

It is hard to get going, but when you get back you have lots
of good things to think about while potatoing out in the recliner 

-Mike

[Thunderbolt]

I understand most or all of what you said Bruce.  I have been retired for almost 4 years now and thought I would have all kinds of time to do those things that I have had on the "list".  Not so.  Seems that there is always something else that keeps me from working through the list.  Which brings me to why I actually decided to comment.
Just think of the explorers back in and around the time of old Christopher Columbus that would set out this time of year and decide to look for that spice route to the West and find themselves in the middle of a hurricane.  Talk about how they should have stayed in the recliner!!!
Keep up the good work.

[DDT (12)]

I understand most or all of what you said Bruce.  I have been retired for almost 4 years now and thought I would have all kinds of time to do those things that I have had on the "list".  Not so.  Seems that there is always something else that keeps me from working through the list.  Which brings me to why I actually decided to comment.
Just think of the explorers back in and around the time of old Christopher Columbus that would set out this time of year and decide to look for that spice route to the West and find themselves in the middle of a hurricane.  Talk about how they should have stayed in the recliner!!!
Keep up the good work.

Thanks, everybody! I appreciate your comments and observations... I'm learning that there are some pretty doggone wise folks on this board! As for me...

Funny, it spite of everything, actually rising from the chair and taking those first few steps are the hardest parts. Once I'm in motion, then I can usually keep myself going forward. Those darned 'good' reasons not to arise in the first place seem to be the major hurdle for me... Now that I'm out here, though, no problem at all to get up and out each morning!

One of the many misconceptions about retirement is the expectation of much time available for everything... ain't so! On the other hand, there is plenty of time to those of us who are committed to mastering leisure... Well, those of us who are also single, anyway...

I think 'honey-dos' are a spouse's way of getting revenge on us for every forgotten anniversary and birthday, and every time we gave the 'wrong' answer to an important question... you know, when we foolishly gave a truthful answer instead of the one we were expected to give...

DDT

[solo1]

Yes, I surely miss the honeydo's.  My wife was my activator.

Now, when we should be sharing our leisure time she passed.  I miss her but I will not want to 'breakin" a new companion.  People my age are REALLY set in their way. I'm one of them and so are all the geezerettes out there.

[cookiedough]

Us middle agers are set in their ways as well so you are not alone as well as procrastinating.

I FINALLY AFTER 4+ years got around to replacing the rotten wood trim boards lower corner of patio, front door, and back garage door.   Wife has been nagging at me for years.   Glad I got it done though since 2 of the 3 had HUGE carpenter ants in there and rotten wood beyond just the trim board.  I was too lazy to rip it all out replacing more than just a few small trim boards, but took out all the old wood chips,  killed as many ants as possible, and re-filled the 1 foot gap (at most) with foam great stuff sealant.  Man,  that stuff keeps expanding and expanding even some 45 minutes later.  I found another piece of wood rotten needing replacing around the garage side window, but that will have to wait another year (or 3)...    

I do wonder though how much other wood around the house is rotten after some almost 25 years?  At least I got done with 1 of the several dozen on the honey-do list.   Next is powerwashing the house and scrubbing by hand some of the black moldy crap in some areas off the vinyl siding/gutters.  Really should also take out and clean by hand all the windows,  has not been done in several years - YUK!  and the LIST continues and goes on and on.....     Cleaning is not my specialty...