The Dream trap or: How trying to make our dreams come true can fudge us over. Part 5/5
This chapter is for:
• Is it possible to regret our dreams becoming reality?
• “The devil in the details” and some other dream traps
• Do 6 pack, bookworm badasses exist?
• Ways to improve attention span
• How to increase work efficiency
• From KFC through M&M to McD as workout routines
• How one can be losing while winning and winning while losing
Several years ago I was at a governmental conference on education. The GOV official expressed with concern that for the past 15 years, due to all technological and internet influence, attention span had decreased from 40 to 5-6 min.
Expectations were that this would shrink even further to about a minute and a half and that was important for adjusting the entire structure of lesson layout in schools. Another one gave data on how book preference and book-printing changes and also on how computers and technology have an effect on book-trading, culture and the ability of people to read.
Back then I still indulged in science, I read complex material and I used to focus on a particular subject with days on end.
TnT №6
If you want to increase your attention span, start spending more time on books, regardless if fiction or not and limit the one that you’re spending on the computer, all social media, and your smartphone. The amount of info is great and we get used to constantly shifting our attention from one place to the other and this leads to having difficulty focusing. With books we tend to focus longer and that acts as a mental workout. Same like muscle mass – the more we do it, the more capable we become at it.
But that is another story and I will tell you that another time.
(For more on the subject, read the chapter “Thinking, social media, books and cultural junk-food”)
And that’s how you become a 6 pack badass bookworm.
The information the second official provided only reinforced my belief that my heightened self-esteem is rightly found on the basis that I could do things other people can’t. Interesting enough, but people often trust my opinion as an objective estimate.
TnT №7
When we like ourselves and have high self-esteem, it is more likely that people would trust and respect us more. That’s why you must find things that you are good at and ways to shed light on them. There is a notable difference when you are simply displaying high self-esteem (a.k.a. show-off) and when that is actually grounded in something.
Because of that self-esteem, the people who organized this governmental conference made something extraordinary for me. During the lunch break, when we spoke, they’ve decided to organize a private tour, especially for me, directly calling a tour-guide, who was supposed to take me throughout the entire old-city (including the museums, which were outside of working hours)
But this is another story and I will tell you that another time.
And here I am today, an average representative of the population when attention span for more than 15 min is concerned. Or otherwise said: from hero to almost zero.
After the second round, I put the book aside and began watching it with silent contempt, blaming it for haven’t finished already.
I felt like a student with an F in chemistry that holds a textbook in his hand and knows that he must read as far back as 5 or 6 lessons to find out where his knowledge gaps are and to … get to know things that any rational individual would agree are incomprehensible and shouldn’t be taught at school. So he takes the textbook, takes a scornful look at it and hates himself for starting reading it.
I was itching to do something else and relocated to the lounges with pool view next to the fireplace.
Oh, the agony!
To read while the job remains unfinished, while everybody’s working out and when you could be doing 1001 other things...
After a third 15 min round, I couldn’t stand it any longer and I went to lift a bit. I thought that would be less bothersome than the book.
Setback №4.
The place was crowded.
So far I’ve never gone to the club during these hours. Every person living in a capital city knows what peak hours are, but it was a first that I got to observe this inside a training room.
Queues for fitness gear, no dumbbells or weights left.
Travesty!
Abominable!
Why can’t this rabble stay at home, relaxing from work and leave us normal people to train in peace? After a couple of series, my nerves couldn’t bear the numberless vermin and again migrated south. Well, in this case, the spa.
It’s not necessary to describe the remaining two hours of silent agony.
I’m doing it because a lot of people dream about reading a book at a fireplace. I’ve dreamt it too, especially back when I worked, managing 20 people, a business, home, family, a kid, a cat and one husky dog (both are not to be underestimated).
Well, my dream came true. So what?
So folks, careful what you wish for! ... True story!
To be honest, in those quiet moments of reading, several ideas came to fruition/mind, spending some time on them and (important) realizations provoked by the text.
But that is another story and I will tell you that another time.
How did it all end?
As I expected, the long-awaited Zumba session was pleasant and amusing. There were issues with the air conditioning and at some point things became hot, our clothes got soaking wet and I turned up (the sleeves of) my t-shirt, (and) in the process exposing my newly built muscles.
Some of the ladies in the back began to giggle and wolf-whistle at me.
Now That is a reward for staying hours lifting.
The sublime moment came when I made one of the movements in my own, manly way. Instead of swinging my hips (which I don’t really find appropriate for me), I started making thrusts back and forth in the same rhythm. Then the trainer lost focus and messed up the steps and some of the ladies charmingly laughed.
A little later, on another song, she started sending me heart signs and then to all the rest in the room.
For moments like these, it was well worth it.