Distraction

Distraction is great for repressing boredom. We can keep ourselves busy, fully occupied, so much so that we are able to avoid facing our difficulties. Distraction is also wonderful for pain relief – it helps ease the suffering until thy body heals itself. Distraction techniques have their place, but never-ending distractions can shield us from an entire life of living. We defer facing what needs to be done to cure the source of the anguish. A visit by a friend who makes you laugh will enable an hour to whiz by. You temporarily forget that you are unwell and in pain. This can be great. Some though are distracted for their entire time on earth. Where were you taught to be forever distracted, and by whom? How did they benefit? People profit from getting people’s attention and holding it for as long as possible using novelty, curiosity, and micro rewards.

Time flies by when we are focused on something. Reading or playing a game helps time pass. Superb when we are waiting to board a ferry or for the breakdown truck to come and fix our car. Life though can fall into a state of never-ending waiting for things to happen, with distraction oiling life’s engine.

Our spare time is ours to fill. How you consume that spare time is up to you. You need not apologise, nor make any excuses, nor provide rationale, nor justification for your choices you make regarding your free time. People have a belief that whilst we are distracted, we don’t get to experience all there is to experience. Things that they deem more constructive, creative, purposeful, meaningful, advantageous. However, it is measured by their rating system, not yours. What is meaningful to them may not be meaningful to you. What people say you are missing out on may not be particularly significant to you. However, being absorbed in the moment does affect our awareness. Whether that is seen as a positive or not depends on what we want to achieve. Distractions aid procrastination. Distractions hinder our thought processes.

Distraction has a place in our lives, but it also stops us from appreciating the richness and subtleties of what is in front of us. Atmosphere is not created in an instant; it builds slowly, and distraction removes our attention from the moment jarring the joy. Eat something whist in the middle of a discussion. Eat the same thing in silence, alone. The curiosity will be directed differently. The rewards will differ. Distraction makes a difference. Not necessarily better nor necessarily worse, different.