From the Bottom of the Bucket

          Mind Games

“We're playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers, planting seeds” – John Lennon

Day 61 of social isolation.  Two months with no human contact.  I have spent most of the time exercising (virtually, by Zoom, except for walks , which were done in social distancing) reading, playing video games on Xbox and watching movies as well as streaming series.

Perhaps this has influenced my view of things, but when I started this column almost forty years ago, I promised to share my perceptions as a was experiencing them. So here goes.

I have become fascinated with the concept of alternate realities. The games on xbox that I play are  so real visually and audio wise, that they are transformational.  My hand tremor makes reading a book difficult, so I have switched to audio books, which allows me to close my eyes and see the author’s words in my mind.  One of the series I am watching (Westworld) deals, at a deep level, in the constructs of imagining and “reality”.

But “the new normal” is just as full on conflicting interpretations as these “false” realities.  Our way of life has been altered to a different way of living,, or has it?  I think we all are basically in the same Roles, but we have had to revise the associated  Activities to fit the new circumstances.  For example, my Role as SON is still present, but since my ninety-six year old Mother is in lockdown at the nursing home, I have had to find new Activities to fulfill that Role. Circumstances are beyond anyone’s control, but how you react to them is highly individualistic.  I also think that the process of identifying those alternates requires a large amount of creativity , which in turn is dependent on your personal sense of who you are and how comfortable you are with that image..

In another words, you must work from within, when you are without. So, take some time to renew your reality and build your confidence to deal with the future. Also, remember that other people’s reality is based on their perceptions, not yours.

Until the future, I wish you fulfillment.

Bob