+++
title = "What a day for a daydream"
author = ["George Jones"]
publishDate = 2020-11-25
lastmod = 2022-02-26T08:22:41-05:00
tags = ["life", "100DaysToOffload"]
categories = ["blog"]
draft = false
+++
> "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention..."
This piece began as some thoughts on "attention" and wound up as
reflections on daydreams. I think I'm a fan of daydreaming.
## 1 Attention {#attention}
Attention is a finite commodity. You only have so much
attention to give in your life, in your day. Parents want your
attention. Brothers and sisters and friends want your attention.
Teachers want your attention. Employers want your
attention. Politicians want your attention. Social media wants
your attention. And, of course, advertisers[^fn:1] want your attention
(the most literal translation of the Latin roots of the word
"advertisers" would be rendered "turn-toward-ers")
Sometimes there is a reward (punishment) for your attention
(in-attention). Sometimes you are just "had" and your money
goes away with your attention, never to return.
You never get your attention back once you've given it. You
can't create more attention. You can't save attention. You can
waste attention. You can fragment attention. You can destroy
attention.
Attention is a precious, irreplaceable commodity. Guard it. Use
it wisely.
Which leads to...
## 2 Daydreams {#daydreams}
We say daydreamers are "lost in their own thoughts". They don't
do the things other people want them to do. They don't _give
their attention_ to things _other people_ think they should give
their attention to.
But (some) dreamers change the world.
> All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the
> dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it
> was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for
> they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.
>
> T.E. Lawrence,
Daydreamers are "their own people". And that bothers people who
want them to be somebody else, to pay attention to certain
other things.
## 3 One daydreamer {#one-daydreamer}
This may not be "the perfect blog post". It may not have the
perfect structure and flow. It may not end concise advice you
can live by and a nice list of actionable items.
I've going to end it with a quote from a daydreamer who was
torn apart for 40 years by demands on his attention from school
teachers, societal norms, family, fans who loved him, people
who hated him, the music industry, his band-mates, religious
teachers, artists, social causes, politicians, the media and
lawyers:
```text
...
People say I'm lazy
Dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
J. Lennon, Father, "house-husband" and bread-maker, 1980
```
Dream on.
Post 37 of #100DaysToOffload
[^fn:1]: ADS stands for "Attention Distraction Syndrome"