As much as I hate to admit it, I am ‘joined at the hip’ with my computer. It is a near constant companion. I never leave it in the car; likening it to a small child who I would not keep in a car by himself or herself either. It is a source of income generating activity (writing) and social interaction; Facebook and Twitter among those tools. It is also, I am convinced, sentient in many ways. It seems to respond directly to my emotional states. No kidding…when I am in need of rest, it slows down to a crawl until I sometimes give up in exasperation. I walk away from its whirling little circle of light on the screen since it is moving far too slowly for my activity level. Yesterday, it corresponded with my busy-buzzy brain as the words and images on the screen were jumping around like popcorn kernels in a campfire. At first, I laughed at the pace, recognizing it as my own. From that point, I began to worry, imagining the worst-case scenario during which the laptop and I would be out of commision for who knows how long. In addition, I got ahold of my friend Eric who, when I bought the computer before this one and asked about getting Geek Squad protection, told me to turn down the insurance, stating “You have your own Geek.” Eric did some research and discovered that the weird wiring piece of equipment on which my fingers are currently dancing was doing some upgrades. Not wanting to rely solely on science, I decided to offer Reiki to my computer. I also took lots of deep breaths and kicked back for a bit. I rebooted the computer and within a short period of time, I was up and operating once more.
Another computer generated revelation came to me as my middle-aged brain has, for the past 12 years or so, slowed in its functioning. I say sometimes that the hard drive is full and can’t possibly contain any more thoughts and ideas. What I found, though is that the problem isn’t as much storage as it is, retrieval.
When I was young, my mother would use the phrase, “I have a mind like a sieve.” I would giggle as I imagined her brain looking like the blue and white metal colander that she would use to drain spaghetti and think about ideas slipping through the holes. Not so funny anymore as my own formerly reliable memory has developed its own gaping openings.
A few years ago, while working as a social worker in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, I was having a conversation with a co-worker who has become one of my dearest friends. Peggy was regaling me with a story about her sister with whom she lives. One of them had asked the other what the name was for ‘sleeping equipment.’ The other responded “pajamas?” Yup, that was it. On their fridge, they have what they now call a pajamas list with the names of common words and their description. When I couldn’t remember a word while at work, I would look at her and say, ‘pajamas’ and she would let me ‘borrow her brain’ to come up with it. These days, I borrow other friends’ cognitive equipment if I am at loss with my own. Between the bunch of us, we are mind-full
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Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, editor, radio host, BLISS coach, event producer, certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Cosmic Concierge, the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary and co-author of Embraced By the Divine: The Emerging Woman’s Gateway to Power, Passion and Purpose. She has also contributed to several anthologies and personal growth books. Edie has interviewed such notables as Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. Marianne Williamson, Louise Hay, Grover Washington, Jr. Noah Levine, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, Ben and Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She calls herself an Opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility. Edie writes for The Huffington Post, Psych Central, Beliefnet, Elephant Journal, The Good Men Project, Expanded Family, Meaningful Mom, Happenings Media, as well as a growing number of other venues. Edie is the founder of Hug Mobsters Armed With Love, which offers FREE HUGS events on a planned and spontaneous basis. www.opti-mystical.com
