Flow

Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the positive psychology concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.

http://dictionary.babylon.com/flow%20(psychology)/

Whilst discussion the wonderful world of distractions we live in (wwodwlin) with a friend today, I was introduced to the above term. Aaaah, flow. What a rare phenomenon you (yes, we will now be referring to Flow as an entity, not to be confused with Aunt Flo) are. Fleeting, infrequent, and beautiful, Flow, you are the runner's high of progress. Flow, you are much like Nanny McPhee.

When I want you, you are no longer there. When I don't want you...well, I suppose that is a moot point because when would I not want you around? (This goes for both Nanny McPhee and Flow)

Thus Spake Me!

Though its been close to six months since I've read anything by Friedrich Nietszche, something strange has been going on in my thoughts. I first noticed the peculiar new tick developing about two weeks ago. The tick is as follows: whenever I make any declaration, verbal or non, said declaration is followed by me thinking "THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA" with a booming, mental voice.

I don't know why, but for some reason punctuating my statements with that phrase seems to add a fresh, new validity to my existence. After all, saying "I need ranch dip with my broccoli" is a pretty mundane statement, but if it voiced from the lips of the alter-ego of one of the greatest minds to ever develop and speak through an alter ego, suddenly its a little more exciting. Even if I am just playing pretend. After all, that's what I do best. And I shall continue doing it until the day I die. Or maybe just until I get some ranch for my broccoli. THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA!

Earworm, eh?

When I told Mike the Tech about this new blog he has inspired, he recoiled in horror gasping "Earworm? That is horrifying!" So I suppose explanations are in order. An earworm is not a slim, wriggling creature that's making a beeline for your ear so it can ease its way into your brain and eat it. I first heard the term from a German friend of mine. Earworm, or "ohrum" as they say in German, is given to a song that is stuck in the mind.

I am adapting the term for my own use to include anything that's stuck in my mind, not just songs. Since I live in the world of my head far more than the world of reality, the earworms are great in number. I just hope they don't eat any of my lobes.

Mike the Tech

When one has many Mikes in their life, one has to provide them with endearing nicknames to keep them all straight. Michael Lawrence is MLaw, Mike Coffee is Michael Coffee, and Mike Speegle is Mike the Tech. All three Mikes are significant enough to warrant their own personalized-by-Suzy name. Granted, Mike Coffee got the less creative end of the nickname shtick, but I just like the ring of Micheal Coffee.

Mike the Tech, especially deserving of his affectionate term is a co-worker and fellow English student. Often referred to as my doppelganger (despite the fact we look nothing alike), the lifestyle similarities Mike the Tech and I share are startling and annoying to our other coworkers.

We both turned thirty this year, we are both book nerds, and we both have been chipping away at our bachelor's degree with such slow precision even the greatest sloths of academia have passed us by. However, Mike the Tech and I are finally graduating in May. He has expressed disappointment in me that I have allowed a busy schedule to interfere in my writing and to him, I dedicate this new blog. He is the voice stuck inside my head encouraging me to accomplish more. He is my earworm.