Shiny Object Syndrome

by Julie, watching Perry Mason from the beginning in Somerville. Squirrel!

Shiny objects distract squirrels. Which is why, when distracted, some folks say “squirrel”. As if saying it aloud makes the distraction go away, or be manageable.

Would that were so.

To be honest, there is a lot going on in my life right now. I’m thinking of friends and family’s in Milton’s path. The November 5 election is distracting me. As the ED of Sisters in Crime, October is the board turnover, so I’ve been working on that. I’m teaching this semester, and when I read an article that may be good for class I start chasing it down. Family is coming and going and visiting. Birthdays abound. And then there’s the writing.

The writing. Sigh.

I’ve gone through dry spells of creativity, but not now. Now I have too many ideas bumping into each other. None of them have the gravitational pull to keep me focussed. Instead they’ve got me chasing shiny objects like art forgeries, Boston theater in 1890, cooking for large crowds, how much it costs to remodel a kitchen, and needlework patterns from the 1940’s.

Would that these would all gel into one idea, but instead they keep splintering.

More shinny objects.

“Squirrel!”

Nevermind that I hate squirrels (they are rats with nice tails), so every time I think of squirrels I think of con artists. Another shiny object with not even gravitational pull.

Hopefully my mind will quiet soon. Or one of these ideas will take over, and become worth chasing. Until then, bring on the shiny objects.

Friends, how do you control your distracted mind?