INTERNET GRANDFATHER®

Distractions

                                        My dictionary tells me that to distract is to "take (someone's attention) away from what they are doing or should be doing". Beginning in October of last year, I've had several distractions: Eye surgery, travel, business decisions and the like.  They took my attention from what I should have been doing, namely writing columns for this site. I value my efforts to write for several reasons: They help me think about issues and I've had enough feedback to know that I sometimes help people here. I learn things from the (minimal) research I do for my columns. And, perhaps most importantly, the effort to write gives me moments of calm, moments free from worry about the ordinary cares of life.

                                                  I didn't realize until today how long it has been. That's another thing about distractions. Once your attention is drawn away it's almost as if you forget what you should be doing. I honestly had no idea that my last column was October of last year. I'm horrified that I've been so slack. (I've also been lethargic.)

                                                    I also believe that the only way to make up for my slackness is to go forward and do better. I promise that I won't be absent again unless I'm physically unable to type. Maybe in time I'll (almost) forget that this lapse happened at all. And I think that's the lesson of this column: Don't look back and agonize over your failures. Look forward and do the best you can. Remember that so long as you're doing your best, no one can ask for more.

9-1-08