Boulder THINK

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.