When I was growing up, my mother used to tell me too much of a good thing was bad for me. Her kernel of “wisdom” confused me. How could a lot of something good be bad for me? Mom said this when she saw me eating too much candy or watching too much television. She wanted my body and mind to remain healthy. My childhood days have long since past and my mother is now in heaven. Yet, I can still hear a faint voice in my head when I allow myself to be too caught up in distracting activities.
In our present situation involving social distancing and self-isolation, distraction seems to be a gift we can use to save the day. We believe it will keep us away from worrying about “what if” scenarios. It is true getting caught up in our favorite distracting activity transports us far away from these troubled times. The problem arises, however, when we are distracted at the expense of everything else.
In the days ahead, don’t let distraction lure you away from focusing on the important things you need to be doing. Don’t let it keep you from maintaining a healthy mind and body. What important thing could you accomplish if you minimized distraction in your life?