It seems interesting how we tease someone who is easily distracted, calling them magpies or some such thing. The reality is, most people are guilty of this. (Keep in mind, the fact that I’ve used the word guilty does not suggest that I ascribe any negativity to the habit, it’s simply to affirm that this is so. )I don’t think it is a bad thing to be attracted to bright shiny objects or situations. Bees would be less likely to pollinate as readily if flowers weren’t so attractive, and the same could be said of our consistency with regard to propagation and then where would we be as a species? Not as prolific, most likely.

Aesthetics are extremely important to creatures who depend heavily on the sense of sight to move through the world. But aesthetics are not limited to this sense alone. Smell and taste factor in heavily in the shiny is good argument. The temperament a coffee drinker has in the morning is greatly enriched if they wake up to the smell of it.  I don’t think we consider these things to be shiny distractions because they are such an ingrained part of our everyday existence. It’s not something to distract, it’s there to enhance.

Why are some things acceptable as habits that enhance or enrich the life experience and others distract or take away from, as the definition of the word suggests.  If it’s a part of our experience, it can’t help but complement in some way. Even if the result is a discovery of something we’ll likely not revisit. Allowing ourselves to step off a beaten path to check out something new, something shiny perhaps, opens up a vista of unimaginable adventure.

But shiny with regard to thought patterns. Tangents, as it were. Not just within conversations, but the way we make decisions, daily, monthly, yearly. I’ve often posted here about my ability to immediately want to live anywhere I spend more than a couple of hours, to the extent that I even shop around on the internet for housing. It could be considered research, especially in light of the fact that I rarely follow through and make phone calls or anywhere near serious inquiries. My ability to be ‘distracted,’ as it were, seems to be a constant through all facets of my existence. My feelings about wanting to live everywhere extends to the jobs I want to do, the places I want to go. Having a list of destinations and skills one might like to acquire doesn’t seem like a terrible idea on the surface. Having varied interests and abilities keeps things interesting, certainly. My frustration stems from the constant indecision that results of wanting to try everything, see everything and be everywhere at the same time. As a result, I spend a lot more time doing far less than I’d like to.

But it’s all fun.