I have a very singular focus to the exclusion of
all else – a sort of tunnel vision. I can only pay attention to one thing at a
time. I once fantasized that it would be nice to be able to pilot aircraft, but
it would be suicide for me to try to fly a plane. Think of all those
instruments...
I sometimes wonder if this is an age related
phenomena, but I’ve been like this forever. Back when my wife and I were
dating, we went to a movie, and a very rude couple and their poorly parented
children and were occupying the row being us. They talked and shouted and
played around while the movie was in progress (this was before cell phones, so
the group needed other things to do), stuck their feet on the seats in front of
them, and my wife found herself being practically dragged over the back of her
seat to join them when one of the little angels got a hold of her hair and
started pulling. The only thing that kept her in her seat was grabbing onto my
arm and using me as an anchor.
I was focused on the movie and heard and saw NONE
OF THIS; I only know these things happened because my wife told me.
I never see what’s on the periphery on my computer
screen – only what I’m looking for. If someone tries to Instant Message me, I
may not see it until they come by my desk and point it out to me. Someone could
put a message flashing there that says: “A meteor is on target to hit your
desk” with a 24 hour countdown clock and I wouldn’t notice it until after…
well, I guess I wouldn’t notice it then would I?
This isn’t the same thing as my admonition that
there really is no such thing as multi-tasking; when you try to multi-task, you
are really doing one thing at a time, but you’re aware of other workflows, know
what the next step is in each, and switch your attention between them as needed.
I am focused on one thing, no matter what it is,
and don’t see anything else.
I am oblivious.
And yet, I have the sense that someone or
something has been trying to connect with me. I see motion off to the side,
just beyond my peripheral vision, but when I turn my head toward it there’s
nothing there. For all I know, I’m registering this minutes or days after the
signal. The attempts seem to be becoming more frequent and frantic of late - it
must be terribly important, whatever it is.
So, whoever or whatever you are, know this: your
attempts to communicate in this manner are doomed to failure. If you have
something you need to tell me, you must stand right in front of me when you
make your delivery. Otherwise, I will not get the message.
And that goes for the rest of you, too.
Just saying…
<<<>>>
This week’s featured eBook is “Purr Mission” – the first story
in the Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire stories; here’s the smashwords.com
link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/211302?ref=notimetothink
Use coupon
code UJ36J to get 50% off the list
price at check out at smashwords. The coupon will be good through Monday, March 9th.)
Enjoy!
<<<>>>
“Good Luck!” is William’s latest ePublication, and
is only available on Amazon, as part of his continuing Kindle Select experiment
(it joins “Anti-Social”, “Dead End Jobs”, and “Reconcilable Differences” as
available FREE to subscribers of Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners'
Lending Library); here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U46QSPQ
<<<>>>
William Mangieri’s writing can be found in many places, such as:
- His Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008O8CBDY
- Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/william-mangieri?store=book&keyword=william+mangieri
- Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NoTimeToThink
- Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=william+mangieri&sitesearch_type=STORE
Connect with him on Facebook
at: http://www.facebook.com/NoTimeToThink
Or on his goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6893616.William_Mangieri
No comments:
Post a Comment