I’ve been thinking about walls lately. Not the literal ones, but the walls of the mind. We start at an early age constructing these mind walls and each and every one of us has several. Some are thin as gossamer while others resemble the Berlin Wall.
I know people who are so strict in their daily routines they don’t deviate even a minute. Arising at the same time each morning, arriving to work at 8:00 on the dot and leaving at 5:00 day in and day out. Their walls won’t allow any change. In fact if their routine is broken it can upset their apple cart and the day is ruined. They can not be persuaded out of their mindset and the walls become barriers. These I call the Berlin Walls. They will need an act of government and heavy equipment to tear down.
Then there are the people whose walls resemble the Great Wall of China. Long, winding, seemingly never-ending, covering thousands of miles. These folks have bound themselves to so many parameters in life they have no time for spontaneity.
Some barriers can be described as barred, as in a prison cell. The individuals can see through to the other side, dreaming of getting out, but can’t because they are jailed by their own self-imposed, stubborn limitations. This might be the most frustrating of all structures.
Sheer gossamer describes some people’s walls which are really more like curtains, allowing them to come and go with no real effort. Billowing and swaying with which ever the way the breeze goes, these peeps can change their tune at the drop of a hat. Yes, they are always ready for the next adventure but you can’t always count on them showing up. Which begs the question, do they really have any structure at all? Or are they like jelly fish, gliding through the waters with no real form.
And now we come to the magical mess. It has come to my attention that my walls are made of rubber. I bounce from one side to the other, never really coming to a stand still. Emotions run high, time is fluid and magic rules the kingdom. I am not some princess stuck up in a walled structure waiting for her prince. I’m more like the court jester, leaving a little whimsy and chaos where ever I go and then exiting through a portal to who knows where.
This does not make for an easy life. As I bounce around from wall to wall, I always wonder where I’ll land. It’s an adventure; no it’s a disaster; it’s okay; wait, it’s a calamity. And then there is the calm peaceful serenity I call the nap. Which I need after the exertion I put out ricocheting around my emotional life.
Ah, the nap. Has there ever been a more glorious respite than the afternoon nap. Loathed by children all over the world, reveled in by tired adults who have just had it with the day. Ii can refresh, soothe and inspire all at once. Humans need this after jousting with their walls all day.
I seem to have veered off my chosen topic, but bear with me, I’ll bring it all together.
I was writing about walls, specifically my rubber ones. I wonder how many people out there share my bouncy house structure. It’s the emotions that get me in trouble. They start to bubble and roil and when they emerge it’s with a force that shoots me off into the opposite rubber wall. These emotions can range from frustration to anger to all out love to joy. It takes a lot out of this magical creature. It is at this point I think a nap is the best place to go.
Adult napping is not given credit. As Americans we seem to believe we should be working all the live long day. But, we also have a high percentage of strokes, heart attacks and just plain unhappiness. Wouldn’t a chance to take a nap be a better idea? Just an hour or two out of the day to dream and we’d be ready to go again.
I really think our President is barking up the wrong “wall” and should instead be lobbying for the “Nap Act”. It could start a revolution of heath, well-being and happiness from sea to shining sea.
magicalmess 