When we left base for a 3 or 4 month trip back in late October ’23, I packed a plastic crate with “things to do.” It was a worry to me that I would find myself deep in Portugal, or wherever, and at a loose end. I packed books, knitting, colouring books, journaling materials, cameras and so on. After an entirely unexpected trip duration of 606 days, we returned to base with my crate more or less unopened.
What did I do with my time? And did I become bored? The answers are quite shaming. I played games, I doom-scrolled, and yes, became pretty bored. I did read a little, though nowhere near as much as I could or should have. I failed to knit a single stitch. I made no progress on either my drawing course or the journaling exercise. I took few photos that were not of my dinner. I did update Polarsteps, though sporadically and many gaps remain in our trip record. In short, my creativity withered away and I felt much diminished.
Loathing my lethargy, as we approached the end of the trip I had Great Plans for Getting a Grip and Becoming Interested and Interesting. Yet they have all come to naught in the 6 weeks that we have been back.
I have no lack of Things to Do. That’s a fact. What I actually need is To Do Something.
This is it. This is the point at which I am grasping that nettle and making an effort to wake up from what has been a deeply somnolent state. No promises, plenty of intent, some will. Facebook has been a struggle and I have stepped away a few times, only to return because I miss my friends, but now the “Ad Breaks” have proved to be the final straw. I am retreating to here.
How do I revitalise myself and how do I make sure that I use this space to good effect? What is “good effect” anyway? Not looking to entertain, nor to “influence.” I have never assumed that anyone other than myself reads this stuff (though I throw it out there in case of interest), so I don’t think “good effect” means reaching and growing an audience. The blogs have always been my journal. It’s for me, to look back on memories, to vent my feelings, to record things of interest. Is that good effect enough? I am feeling that it isn’t, not right now. I am in need of change. By which I think that I mean change in myself, and my perspective, and my personal growth. I also need to keep sharp. Old age is showing and my brain is not what it used to be. Concentration and focus are harder than they used to be, brain fog is frequent. I really wish to keep my marbles…
Recently doom-scrolling, I came across this article with advice for keeping the motor running. It was largely preaching to the converted but I suddenly realised that I can no longer call myself a Lifelong Learner. I seem to have stalled on that part of my life. It’s time to crack on and do a little servicing and oil change, because I no longer practice what I preach.
I ended up slightly inspired by the article and had the idea that the bullet points for action could inform a new approach to the blog. I can see how the exercises could provide me with prompts,
1. I embrace my ignorance
There’s a common belief that knowledge is the key to success. But growing research suggests that some of the most successful people embrace their own “innate ignorance.”
They understand that there is much more to learn about the world, but they don’t let that impede their progress. If anything, it galvanizes them to do more. Knowing what we don’t know can be a powerful mindset shift that sparks growth and creativity.
How to do this: Once or twice a week, select a topic you know little about, preferably one unrelated to your job or background. Maybe it’s WWII fighter pilots, prehistoric cave paintings, or square-trunked trees.
Spend five to 10 minutes learning all you can about that topic. Write down three interesting facts. This is a small but powerful way to exercise your brain.
2. I practice divergent thinking
Many of us get trapped in an endless cycle of convergent thinking, or always looking for the “right” answers.
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Divergent questions, or open-ended questions that have multiple answers, encourage deeper thinking and help keep your mind flexible.
How to do this: A few times a week, ask yourself “What if…?” questions:
- What if you could relive any day of your life? What would you do?
- What if one historic event could be reversed? Which one would you select?
- What if you could be perfect in one athletic skill or talent? Which would it be?
Not only are these questions fun, they can also generate a number of responses and paths for exploration.
3. I harness the power of awe
According to researchers at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, experiencing awe can stimulate wonder and curiosity.
Some examples can be holding a newborn baby, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, or watching a kaleidoscope of butterflies dance over an open field. That sense of awe can improve our well-being, contribute to a more positive attitude, and boost curiosity.
How to do this: Once or twice a month, go to a place you’ve never been before. It doesn’t have to be somewhere far — maybe a local park or new restaurant. Find something awesome, spend time observing, and record your thoughts.
4. I diversify my reading list
Reading outside our field of expertise may be one of the most significant things we can do to develop our natural curiosity. When we expose ourselves to different ways of thinking through literature, we open up new possibilities for learning.
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How to do this: Visit your local public library and pick at least three books on topics that interest you, but that you’ve never formally studied or worked in. Read at least one chapter a day. You might be surprised by where your research takes you.
Antony Fredericks https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/78-year-old-has-written-over-175-books-my-4-hard-rules-for-a-mentally-sharp-brain.html
1 to 3 could easily provide me with something to write about. I have less confidence in no 4 and feel that a different approach would suit me best.
That’s one opportunity identified, we shall see how it progresses and I will make some Categories and Tags to suit.
August Break 2025 is coming up fast on the inside track. I shall be writing my responses here this time, and not on Facebook. I will miss the friendship and I will miss reading the responses of other members of the group. I may try to connect on Instagram but really do want to turn my back on Meta… That’s something for me to figure out.
Starting August 4th, is an online course on Photography and Mindfulness. Images are shared to Instagram, hence my interim continuing with IG. Of course, I shall be musing and posting images here. It is high time that my cameras saw the light of day.
Between the course, the brain prompts and August Break, my hope is to find a synergy between the activities and to end up posting something really a bit less woolly than usual. Something more thought out, more mindful. Being present and mindful is something that I desperately need to work on as an antidote to all of the negativity and rage that comes with social media. More beauty, fewer rants is the goal. Would that not make a pleasant change.
Speaking of woolly, I really hope to knit more than of late. The domino blanket that I began before we went off in ’23 has not grown at all.
On the mindfulness side, I have already unearthed the coloured pencils. Disengaging with the Internet and concentrating on colouring between the lines is a useful way of calming the mind before sleep. It’s not going brilliantly yet – I completed one page and am almost finished on a second. Available light tends to be an issue. I may share some more.
That’s it, then. That’s me, positioning myself in front of the blog and intending to kick myself up the backside. I know that it has been said before and I know that the intention was there then also, but I really want to keep at it this time.
Stepping back now to continue thinking and restructuring the blog. I hope to be back on August 1st, to get to grips with August Break posting. Here’s this year’s prompts (c) Susannah Conway
