Boulder Creek runs through Eben G Fine Park in the west end
of the City of Boulder. The park is
about a block from my office. I often
find myself drawn there for a little mental pause and to eat the lunch which my
wife lovely spoils me with each day. The
walk to the park clears my head and allows me time to think, reflect and observe
people. Other people are attracted here to
it’s wide, green lawn for playing Frisbee or to watch the kids during summer
doing various camp activities. There are
people looking for a cool place to relax and float down the creek in their
inner-tubes, often bumping into the rocks that give the creek its name. The concrete
path that meanders along the creek invites runners, walkers and people in
conversation to a pleasant place to stroll along the scenic banks. The park is a wonderful place to disconnect
and think.
Finding the time to think is becoming rare. The sound of the
water against the rocks of the creek breaks the clutter of my mind and my routine
like the rocks break the water from its path.
The rocks divide the liquid over and around in different directions forcing
it to move differently than its natural flow. Like the water in the creek I look for ways to
do things different so I can think differently.
I often return from this break, refreshed, refocused and ready for the
rest of my day.
I am not sure about you but I have become tethered to my
mobile devices waiting for the next bit of news or the next world crisis. I communicate more via 140 characters or writing
a note in a text box than speaking to people directly. I do these activities sometimes to excess as
well. Yet, I find myself wanting to
disconnect, read, listen, talk, discuss, create and to think. Most people are not as fortunate to work in a
beautiful place as I do and do not have the luxury or ability to walk to a
nearby park to think. Yet, everyone can
schedule sometime in their morning, noon or in the evening for a few minutes
each day to think. The key to creating
something new or producing something new is to focusing one’s energy on
positive things and positive activities which allows for positive
outcomes. Think and then think
differently. Some guy name Steve did
this and his fruit company changed the world.
