As I write this the world does feel quite heavy. Things in the Middle East have never seemed more tense or closer to spilling over into World War 3. The American election is a nasty circus. The news just seems more depressing than ever. I’m not qualified to talk to you about any of these things but I have found that when the world feels like this, my mind does tend to drift off to the absurd well more often.
At the risk of opening Pandora’s box I’m going to tell you the random things that went through my mind on a 4 hour drive. Brace yourselves.
Random thought one: after driving up the road and seeing the back of a shirtless tradie standing in the middle of the road – I think quietly to myself: Why is this muppet standing in the middle of the road, surely he can hear my car coming? No feel free to keep standing there holding a conversation with your mate on the other side of the street. Not like anyone else has anywhere to be. He’s quite good-looking and age-appropriate. What a funny story that would be about how we met if we got together. He could be the love of your life? Would the love of your life really be dim enough to be standing in the middle of the road not bothering to look for oncoming traffic. I think not. Back to is this muppet planning on moving.
Random thought two: I’ve been feeling really stressed lately. Maybe I should do yoga and meditation but I find them both so dull. I know the point is to slow down your mind but when I’m silent my brain doesn’t just turn off. I can’t stop thinking about the 50,000 things I have to do. I really admire people who can do it. What’s the black belt version of meditation? Being a monk has to be the gold standard. Do I want to give up all my worldly possessions for inner peace? Not really. That makes you a terrible person. What if it empties your mind of all the useless stuff and you could become this all-knowing being? It sounds good in theory but how dull would that be. Your sense of curiosity is what makes you human and gives you joy. Doesn’t that go away if you know everything? So, yoga is a no. I wonder if there is a true crime podcast I haven’t listened to yet?
Random thought three: What’s that noise? I really hope there isn’t something wrong with the car. We are in the middle of nowhere. It’s not going to be ideal if we break down. Back in the 70’s you could pick up hitchhikers, and you could trust that if someone pulled over to help you, they had good intentions but now I’d be too nervous to accept help from anyone, like that last car we passed. He might be the nicest guy in the world but I don’t know that. How far is the next town? 70km, I can’t walk that far. I got puffed walking to the shop the other day. (realises that the noise is the strap of my handbag that was hanging out of the car door and banging against the metal.). Never mind. I wonder who is on Joe Rogan this week?
So this is the inner workings of the mind of a middle-aged woman who likely has undiagnosed ADHD, because all my medical advice now comes from videos on Instagram. Just be aware that next time you are talking to someone and they don’t seem to be listening, it’s not you, you are just competing with a whole thought process already going on in their head.
Update: Now have an official ADHD diagnosis which no one who knows me well was surprised about at all.
On tour with the kid 
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