> > >> Subject: FW: Thinking.............. > > >> > > >> It started out innocently enough. > > >> > > >> I began to think at parties now and then -- to loosen up. > > >> Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I > > >> was more than just a social thinker. > > >> > > >> I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I > > >> knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more > > >> important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time. > > >> That was when things began to sour at home. > > >> > > >> One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about > > >> the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's. > > >> > > >> I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and > > >> employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began > > >> to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and > > >> Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, > > >> asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?" > > >> > > >> One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like > > >> you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has > > >> become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the > > >> job, you'll have to find another job." > > >> > > >> This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after > > >> my conversation with the boss. > > >> > > >> "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..." "I know > > >> you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" > > >> > > >> "But Honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," > > >> she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college > > >> professors, and college professors don't make any money, so > > >> if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!" > > >> > > >> "That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently. > > >> > > >> She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in > > >> no mood to deal with the emotional drama. "I'm going to > > >> the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I > > >> headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. > > >> > > >> I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran > > >> up to the big glass doors... They didn't open! The > > >> library was closed! > > >> > > >> To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out > > >> for me that night. Leaning on the unfeeling glass, > > >> whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. > > >> "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. > > >> > > >> You probably recognize that line. It comes from the > > >> standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am > > >> what I am today: a recovering thinker. > > >> > > >> I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a > > >> non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we > > >> share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the > > >> last meeting. > > >> > > >> I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. > > >> Life just seemed...easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped > > >> thinking. > > >> > > >> I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me. > > >> > > >> Today, I registered to vote as a Democrat. > > >> > > >> > > > > >
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
