Before forgetfulness Becomes A Habit

Reena’s Exploration Challenge #454

PROMPT #454
Choose one or more from the following phrases to build your piece.

The mirage of momentum
The noise of necessary things
The hypnotism of hurried living
The cage of constant doing
The autopilot of Urgency

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The other evening I was reading a book in the drawing hall when a peculiar burning smell tickled the nostrils. I tsched tsched. Auntie next door had again burnt the dinner. But as it came to light a little while later it wasn’t the lady next door but yours truly who had conveniently forgotten that she had kept the spinach to boil on the stove.

A few weeks back I couldn’t locate the sugar container on the kitchen shelf. A few days and several prayers later it was found in the freezer. Seriously!! Now which idiot displaced the innocuous sugar and why ?

A lot of times picking up the mobile I forget who I intended to dial or message. When I was working I used to get these blank spells completely erasing incidents, conversations and transactions that had already taken place. This would invariably lead to doubts, disbelief, double payments which a few kind ones returned and a few took advantage of. Alarmed about my mental health I confided in my mother’s neuro who assured that it was just attention deficit due to excessive multitasking which, in turn, was the outcome of a cluttered routine.

Attention deficit, I have realised, is nothing but unmindfulness. There is no medication to rectify it. One has to devise one’s own means to deal with it. Often entering a room when I forget the purpose I was there I mentally retrace my action. In most cases I am successful in remembering. I am getting into a habit of consciously but silently repeating to myself what I am doing presently. It helps in maintaining focus especially those days when I am not particularly centred.

It’s good to draw out a checklist of the day’s activities early in the morning, stick to it as far as possible and tick the boxes off before going to bed. This can be done on a weekly or monthly basis too. I have a magnetic planner on the fridge at the expense of making the whole world privy to my personal to-dos. Nevertheless it’s a handy reckoner.

Attention and retention deficits are closely connected. It’s hard to retain some times what I have read or watched a day or two back, how much payment made to whom, what I have promised to my family to do which is still pending , remember names of persons, places etc. Not that age has caught up but life is so busy, changes take place so often and there is that sense of urgency always playing in the back of the mind to finish off chores and fulfill wishlists because time is ticking by that prompt such lapses.

An easy way out for me is to divide the day into a number of smaller activities like cooking one new dish instead of a lavish spread, reading a few pages without any hurry to finish a book , watching just one episode of a serial instead of binging  so on and so forth. (Though there may be exceptions to the rule here and there😛). However, if at times remaining focussed even on a small portion of daily work becomes strenuous I do not push myself any longer. I just leave the work then and there and try to relax or listen to what my head or heart tells me to do.

Swami Vivekanand used to say the one difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary man lies in their power of  concentration. The biggest of problems can be resolved through deep focus and unwavering concentration. For the purpose, Swami Sarvapriyanandaji recommends holding on to a moment , i.e., being aware of what you are doing in that particular moment. There are many simple hacks to increase mindfulness (apart from meditation, Pranayam , breathing exercises, yoga) which one can customize to one’s own requirements.

A sedentary lifestyle can be unhealthy. But a lifestyle which is well placed out is highly desirable to lead a meaningful and enjoyable life. If in doing so a few chores remain undone in a day not to get hassled but rather take it as a blessing. An incomplete task  signifies God has given one more day on this earth to complete it.