Active Mind

In the last two months, in particular, I have met so many different people, worked on so many different projects, learnt so many new skills, been exposed to so many new challenges …. my mind has been buzzing constantly and every now and then, I will remember snippets of conversations with people and it takes me a while to figure out where I was and who exactly I was talking to. Often I will run up the terrace at lunch times and bump into people from the numerous work places I have been in. For a moment, my mind goes blank as I try and recall where they were from, what their names were, whether they are affectionate people who want to embrace me and kiss me, or the distant variety who are happy with just a nod…. aaaggghhh I remember …

….sitting in work meetings in my last work place with team members, talking about the progress with legislative amendments and administrative changes.

…having intense spiritual conversations in the work kitchen with people absorbed in new age practices, clairvoyants, yoga, mediation, star signs ….

…. laughing with the chicks in the change rooms, all talking about our muscles, clothes, fitness efforts for the last year and our new year’s resolutions… then running up the hill with them, all trying to get some words out, while gasping for breath and trying so hard to just get up those darn steep hills while having a meaningful conversation.

…seemingly endless conversations over many lunches and coffees with work friends at different places in the city, while sampling all sorts of different foods…

….sitting with my family, having discussions about work experiences, clients, patients, big technical words to describe common problems

…taking my puppy for a walk and telling him about little things along the way, as if he’s a young student

…sitting among film crew people, talking about shots we took, issues we had, cables, music, black clothes, black shoes, black curtains…

…sitting in big church services, with 1000s of people, impacted by the large-scale worship and people all around me

…then sitting in small intimate church services with less than 30 people, overwhelmed by the intensity of God’s presence, the comparably quiet, yet sweet and power worship times

…then sitting among foreign missionaries in YWAM meetings, identifying with the different cultures making up my genetics

…5am prayer sessions talking to God, absorbing words of wisdom that are highlighted to me…

….sitting through a grueling interview with powerful executives firing me with hard questions and responding quickly by putting my six years of work experience into smart replies …. Finding out I got the job, then my first day on the job, meeting face after face after face, new hands to shake.

…going to new work functions, surrounded by people I know nothing about, struggling to find common ground …..

….intensely productive and constructive meetings with my boss, targets, milestones, skills to learn, places to visit, people to meet, research to undertake

…meetings with powerful well-groomed executives in immaculate suits, my knees shaking under the table, terrified in their presence, hoping they wont notice how uneasy I feel, wondering if my suit blends in with the culture….

…phone calls about controversial topics, racking my brain to quickly find diplomatic ways of saying things

…conversations with pushy sales staff, fighting to win the contracts I’m awarding …

….entertaining friends who had dropped in for coffee and afternoon tea, laid back, casual, peaceful catch-ups…

agggghhh, so much activity for the poor dendritic cells in my brain!!!!