Chewing on an Idea

Follow with me, if you will, a stream of consciousness. As I sat on the couch chewing on a business development idea, with our dog Shaggy at my feet, I noticed that the house was quiet. The boys went down the street to the library to get a movie, my daughter was upstairs on the phone (and her music wasn’t loud) and for an instant I felt like I was alone – just me and Shaggy – which made me feel, dare I say it, retired.

I thought about how much time our elders have on their hands and why they absolutely adore their pets. Pets, especially dogs, can entertain themselves quite nicely. So I look down and really notice Shaggy getting into his rope bone. He is chewing away with a single-mindedness that I would like to give the idea I’ve been chewing on. And then my mind follows this new stream: what if there really is no difference between my business development idea and Shaggy’s rope? The passion that I bring to business development, on the surface, doesn’t seem too diametrically opposed to the passion he is bringing to this rope. I dig into the network of people ideally suited to launch the plan, he digs into the stringy part on one end that is nicely frayed in three different colors; I dig into aspects of capital needs and he digs into a compromised nub of the otherwise tightly twisted area. I take my mind off the idea for a brief interlude and Shaggy stops momentarily with ears perked to hear the car pull into the driveway.

Aside from the potential impact my idea might generate with others, Shaggy’s rope seems to make him just as happy as my idea makes me. Of course observing him enjoy his rope also made me happy! And so extend the benefits of a little bit of time and space, mixed with a bit of mindful observation.  But... since the house is no longer quiet and I no longer feel the spacious luxury for playing in my stream of consciousness I bookmark my idea and get back to tending to the combined energy generated by the other players in my life.