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1/21/2024
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In the last piece I started writing a little bit about the "how" 
of bringing imagination back into my life, but before I get into 
any more specifics about the "hows," I want to look at some 
"whys." [1]

Use Case One  
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For one thing, I have found that there are situations where you 
are bored, but it still would be improper to be looking down at 
your phone and gaming intensely. Most of the ones I have 
experienced involve hospitals, funeral houses, and grave sites. 
As an aside, it seems like in the hospital scenario 
doom-scrolling is still allowed as it creates no sudden jerks 
(turn-based games may also be considered). Also, texting seems 
to be always allowed at the hospital, because the person doing 
it can claim they are "updating family" or "checking in." 

... This isn't just gallows humor [2]. I have learned from the 
example of my wife's family that when a loved on is at a 
hospital, it is best to have someone stationed with the patient 
at all times in order to make sure someone can talk to the 
medical professionals as they come in as well as make sure 
creature comforts are taken care of in a timely manner for the 
patient. And yes, the less sever the situation, the more likely 
you are to be able to play a game on your phone, but as a person 
for whom shit has gone down, I want to go to give you permission 
to feel boredom in the midst of a long bout of Care and 
Concern... What matters is the time you put in to be available, 
and how you handle certain key moments. But eyes will pry, and 
these moments are just as likely to bring the worst out of 
people as the best, so there is certainly a time to hide your 
need to play.
 
Use Case Two
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I have battled insomnia for easily 15 years now, and imaginative 
play is one of the best sleep interventions I have found, and it 
feels very sustainable -- though I must admit the sample size is 
still a bit small. It is only now in my 39th year of life that I 
have gotten serious about cutting off my caffeine after 11 am-- 
and preferably after 9 am or so. That move has been necessary, 
but not sufficient; I must watch what I think as well to avoid 
my mind racing.  This means no new learning that requires a lot 
of synthesis -- so non-fiction which I find interesting or 
meaningful is out. Likewise, I cannot think about things that 
have great stakes for my life and values... But I can't just 
think about boring things as my mind will rebel in pretty sort 
order [3]. But imagination works pretty well as a sleeping pill. 
 

==

[1] On second thought, I don't think I am where to go to for
"hows." Here, let me recommend a good place on gopher: 

gopher://gopher.smolderingwizard.com/1/


[2] And gallows truth. George Sanders: "Humor is what happens 
when we're told the truth quicker and more directly than we're 
used to."

[3] I want to add another note about extreme lengths I have gone 
to in order to try to sleep regularly. During summers I have 
tried sitting in darkness once the sun goes down (or even a 
little before, knowing how long those days get). This "darkness 
therapy" can work for a while, but again the problem is boredom. 
I tried a variation on this by getting a red light and trying to 
solve math problems or bridge hands (I was trying to take up the 
hobby). 

I also used to read some poems of E.E. Cummings in bed. Many of 
his poems occupy the boundary lines of making sense, at least 
when read causally... Letting go of the real world and its logic 
and facts seems to help get me to sleep.

==

This work is hereby in the public domain. 
Do what you want with it.