The Desk As Metaphor

The desk is the mind.

Right now, my desk has

• a computer
• an external screen
• a light
• a microphone
• a camera
• a bluetooth keyboard
• a bluetooth mouse
• a couple pens
• a binder of papers
• a half dozen cords connect things behind the scenes

Nothing surprising, right?

Sounds borderline organized and structured.

But what if I told you there were 18 random post-its, 3 broken items, a piece of trash, and a coffee mug from this morning. There’s an extra cord not plugged into anything. Surely there’s something dead that needs charging, but it isn’t here at the moment.

Now, all the sudden, it sounds messy.

It is.

My mind is in a nearly identical state. I have some organization and structure. I have the main work project I’m working every day. I have The Daily Omer writing every day. I have a course I’m working through. I have daily habits and routines to keep me in shape and performing at a high level.

But I also have all these random thoughts/post-its I haven’t put in their place yet. Frankly, I don’t know where to put them, how to tag them, how they’ll contribute to anything in the future.

I have a few broken items/mindsets I’m trying desperately to shed. I have a couple aches and pains that just nag at me.

I have trash/mental and emotional baggage I’m still sorting through and need to throw away.

I have dirty dishes/chores that I’m behind on.

I have a couple borderline dead ideas floating out there. Surely I could connect them to the charger and get something going.

At any given time, I can take a look at my desk and tell you where your mind is.

What about you? How’s your desk? How’s your mind?