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March 04, 2004
The genius of light
When I'm up against a work deadline and I often find myself staring into my screen - staring into nothingness. Eyes focussed on infinity rather than the cursor. This might last 30 seconds - or it might last up to an hour - or maybe more. This is my way of having "mental block". Patiently and intensely waiting for that moment of genius when it'll all come to me and I'll be flowing in auto-pilot. That moment when the thoughts in my head will be travelling faster than the speed of my fingers at the keyboard. With every snap out of it I'm reminded that I'm not any closer to finishing - and I am further away from starting than when I first started. A vicious cycle that sometimes results in a little anxiety, mild panic and twinges of stress. In recent years I've learned to cope with this by close-focussing on something else. Like my desk lamp for example. It's usually not long before I'm back in action and out of the "block". Damn, I love my desk lamp: I'll be thinking about you when I wow them all at the office tomorrow.
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Posted by jag at March 4, 2004 09:21 PM
Comments
Did the genie of the desk lamp appear in the shape of inspiration ? Hope it does.
Posted by: stroppycow at March 5, 2004 12:12 AM
Nice pic.
Posted by: Chakra at March 5, 2004 09:36 AM
Lovely pic.....I have my photography project due..shucks shud have asked for ur help........dumb me.....didn't strike me at all.....:p :P :P :P :P
Posted by: Shobha at March 5, 2004 04:34 PM
I too have come across the well-acclaimed mental block while programming. Sometimes I just leave it at that, and try it another time. Sometimes I take a break to play a game, a good one, or chat with somebody. But I suppose watching a desk-lamp mite give a new perspective in the problem being worked on, and hence a new soln.
Posted by: sat at March 5, 2004 06:08 PM
i know EXACLTY what you're describing. i have EXACTLY the same experience.
and that LAMP. yeah ikea 20W. i got that one in my living room too. has these fancy airing stripes, which are also a bit annoying when they glare into your eyes.
Posted by: Marcus at March 6, 2004 01:45 PM
Strop: I sometimes wish the Genie of the lamp *would* appear when I stare at it for so long during a mental block - but alas it doesn't. However, the paper-clip usually pops up and announces "It looks like you're writing a suicide note ..." :-)
Chakra, Shobha - many thx for your compliments!
Sat: Taking a break to play is definitely the best solution I think. Good for you! (Wise words warning: "Innovation is the by-product of play")
Marcus: Heh heh - great minds think the same desk lamp! Yep - most definitely IKEA - and probably goes by the fancy name of "Anton" if I recall correctly. Yes - I point those heat-vent stripes upwards so that they don't glare. Nice one!
Posted by: Jag at March 7, 2004 06:26 PM