Brain Flatulence

Yesterday, on the way to the Hinton Jr. High Softball Tournament (my daughter’s team took 2^nd), I had a great idea for an article.  I wish I knew what it was.

This happens on a regular basis.  I get in a discussion with the wife, a friend or in my head; think to myself, “If I expound on that it might make a good article,” and decide to remember it for later.  Sunday morning comes, I get out the computer and think, “OK, what was that story idea?”  And then I sit and think, and think harder, and get frustrated…and come up with another idea.

If the wife recognizes the thought as article-worthy she’ll advise I write it down, and usually I…don’t.  The responding thought to her advice it always, “There’s no need, I won’t forget an idea this magnificent”, and then I forget.

It’s not just the article that gets shorted, so does my bank account (in theory).  I’ll have an idea for a new product or product improvement, or maybe a service idea that, at least in my mind, has merit.  Promising myself to expand this drop of genius into a retirement funding income stream, I move on to the next thought only to never see more than a shadow of the inspiration, a recollection that I had an idea but no clue what it was.

Often the problem is timing.  When a light bulb flashes in the car, somehow guiding a ton and a half of metal and plastic down the road at 65 miles per hour past other ton plus projectiles zooming within a couple feet seems more important than jotting down a thought that I’d never get to from the graveyard, anyway.

There’s a voice recorder on my phone that should be easy enough to use without risking life and limb but I haven’t figured out how to use it.  I suppose I could figure that out this morning…but I need to write this article.  I’ll remember to do that later.

Outside the car arrogance is the enemy.  An idea worthy of follow-up surely wouldn’t exit my memory.  But it does…every time.  I admit it takes quite an ego to assume my brilliance is unforgettable, but in my defense…hmm, turns out I don’t have a defense, just a leaky bucket of lost thoughts.

Then there’re those convenience issues.  If the smart phone isn’t handy or I’m engaged in something I want to finish without interruption I have to decide if recording the thought is worth the inconvenience.  Translation: I have to convince myself it’s not that good an idea, otherwise I’d have done something stupid by ignoring the inspiration just to continue watching Doc Martin or fishing.

Who knows what could be accomplished could I bridge the gap between inspiration and action.  There might be fodder for infinite articles, extra income for a very non-teacher-esk retirement or an eternal impact on mankind’s quality of life.  But for a sense of responsibility on the road, arrogance of inspiration and proclivity to finish without interruption my ideas (dazzling or not) leave as quickly as they come; not inspired brilliance but brain flatulence.