Get a load of this nonsense!

In high school, Tim, Janet and I wrote nonsense to each other.

We used (mostly) real words, and (mostly) standard grammar, but the content was entirely stream of consciousness. We kept it all in a notebook and took turns, one of us writing a page or two before passing it on to the next person.

We didn't even attempt consistency, didn't care that none of it made sense. The joy was simply in the creation, and in witnessing and appreciating the bizarre stuff that poured from each person's brain.

That memory popped into my head the other day while I was journaling in a similar stream-of-consciousness way: not wanting to fix or control or understand anything, but simply to notice what was happening for me in the moment.

That kind of "noticing" practice has been liberating for me lately. It’s a good reminder that things are always alive and changing, and that there’s no need to grasp for control and certainty, as much as my brain wants to do that right now.

It's nice to be able to give that poor brain a break once in a while.

In that spirit, I leave you with these recent words, inspired by my 16-year-old self and her friends:

It's hard, you know, managing a fizzle pop. Lightning and onion rods and pretzel hinges and great glass warriors. Where do they all go? You're allowed to stop and breathe, you know. No prizes for the cloudy ones, or the super shiny ones, or for maggots falling from the ceiling, either. That was a joke, son, you giant rooster. Baskets float and distract, but where are the buttons? Ooh, I found them! Under the yogurt lid, along with the mounds of dog fur. I agree, not a good image. I'm sorry, and know you will forgive me eventually, sweet chickadee. Put on your ballet shoes and let your heart soften into smithereens. Don't worry, they will reform. And won't even need to go to school, the dears. Existential mud pies. Amen and amen.

I hope you enjoy not making any sense of that. But if you're inspired to write some stream-of-consciousness nonsense of your own, I’d love for you to share it with me!