Question Everything's Thought of the Day, January 8, 2008

How many times have you been told that you should keep a small notebook with you to jot down important thoughts, or carry a voice recorder?

Why should I be any different?

You should do, of course, exactly what works for you and absolutely nothing else, but I would highly recommend finding some way that works for you to capture random thoughts.

Thoughts are often fleeting, and rarely does the exact same notion, expressed the exact same way, return. Of course, you could always take the view that if you're truly meant to write about it, it will arrive when you're sitting at your desk, pen in hand.

I try to keep at least a scrap of paper on hand, though I still hold the original form of a poem, scribbled in the smallest hand to fit over both sides of a used envelope. It was what I had, and I was grateful to have something when it came spitting out.

I also find that when my mind is less than fully occupied, I can clear things out a little bit by jotting notes. When - or if - I return to them is sometimes questionable, but they have been captured, if I so choose. One day last week I made 24 distinct notes, from things I've been meaning to write, to blog topics, to ideas of photos to take.

Today's thought is that every thought is precious. Should you cause a ten-car pile-up when one strikes you in traffic? Probably not. Just catch as many as you can, and trust that they have value, whether they seem it at the moment or not.