Archie Bunker And My Day

Focus – that's what a camera does. Focus – that's what the human mind does to direct the body toward accomplishments. But I have to laugh when I discover what an herculean task that really is. From conception onward, experiences and concepts are imprinted on the brain. Just think of what a conglomeration of neurons pop those imprints around the synapses in a brain. My brain. Your brain. Makes me dizzy just to think of it. And that is a problem.
To focus takes effort, and lots of it, if I am going to stay at a task until completion. You see the first part is to think of the task. I mean that. The thought begins the process. That is fairly easy. O.K. So I want to put on my shoes. The toughest part begins because the task is ordinary and through years of practice is something I can do with my eyes closed.
And that is the problem. My hands are occupied and do the job. However the stuff of thought in my brain does not close the shutter as my camera would. And what does my capricious brain do? Reminds me every time of Archie Bunker ridiculing his son in law for putting a sock and shoe on one foot instead of putting on a sock on each foot before picking up the shoe. Why does that episode rise up in my memory every time I put on a sock?
I have no idea why. But it does. Monotonous, but it happens. Repetition keeps that in the forefront and it leaps out without a prodding. Even against my will.
That may be the lesson here. Focus. Repetition. To make things happen I must think them first. And I must think them often. To stay healthy I want good things to happen. To make good things happen I must think good thoughts. So I begin my day with a shoestring. On the way for another great day, focussed on the positive things I want to happen. I know what mine are. You have to think and focus on your own.
Naomi Sherer