The benefits of mild OCD, and early
onset “oh no, where'd I leave that?”
Yeah, I left my wallet in El Segundo,
Left my wallet in El Segundo,
Left my wallet in El Segundo,
I gotta get, I got-got ta get it
No matter how much checking I do, I
often end up going back to collect what I've forgotten. “Back
already?” BLISS did catch me, once. Coming back for the dog. Having
gone out to walk the dog. “Camera.” “Notepad.” “Keys.”What's
the lesson there? More checking? Or just go and don't waste time on
the ineffective checking?
I have worked with guys who make me
late for meetings because they endlessly have to check their
briefcases, pockets, jackets, briefcases (again), desk drawers (quite
what for I don't know) and so on, before setting off on the great
adventure that is a few stops on the tube and a client meeting.
Forgot your Oyster Card? There's a ticket machine, and, if all else
fails, a person behind a glass window to organise a ticket for you.
No pen? Smiths? Cornershop? Bookies? Argos? Look, mate, how many
security blankets do you need to be swaddled in before being
crowbarred from the air conditioned comfort of your desk?
My impatience and exasperation is born
of a number of things:
A dollop of self (over) confidence. I
think I can cope with anything, armed with little or nothing.
Experience suggests that fully equipped and trained, I can cope with
a very limited range of circumstances. It seems that self-confidence
trumps experience. I've put out a third-floor kitchen and living room
fire with just a nine litre water extinguisher, and some pots and
pans (once the kitchen was almost under control) while everyone else
battled to save the life of a heart arrest young girl on the ground
floor.
Forgetfulness means you don't remember
how prone to forgetting stuff you are. How could you?
Low OCD tolerance. I'd rather do
without something, muddle through, even if it's a consequence of
making a point and heading off in a super-decisive manner, than be
seen to be faffing. BLISS and DLL are in a chosen few of the two of
them to ever see me dithering.
Zero belt and braces tolerance, where
belt and braces are not required. Yes. The Titanic crew could've done
with some more lifeboat drills (and indeed, with some more
lifeboats). Taking the Civic to Sainsbury's does not need full
survival kit and a three-page checklist.
Talking of which...
...as of 2016 you will be able to go on
a cruise, on a Titanic replica, imaginatively named: Titanic II.
Apparently cruises will include period costume.
William Burroughs said...
...something about after a shooting
everyone clamouring to take guns away from everyone who didn't do it.
All balloons (that didn't crash) in Egypt are grounded, while
accident investigators investigate the balloon that crashed. Way to
go, health and safety people. A sensible, balanced and measured
response. That would be too much to ask, wouldn't it?
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