Daydream Believer
You could say I’m a bit of an “airplane watcher”. I know that may sound weird. So, let me explain. I don’t hang out at airports or airshows. I’m not a flight attendant or even work for an airline. But, if I happen to be laying out by a pool or on the beach on a warm, sunny, clear day or even watching a sunset inside my home on a cold, Winter evening I often find myself finding the airplanes. I find them, I watch and I wonder. I wonder things like, “Where are THEY going? Are they headed to an exotic, tropical island? Are they heading to the mountains? Is there a couple up there on their honeymoon? Who’s trying to soothe a baby in their lap? Is there a group of ladies on a girls’ trip? Who, sadly, might be headed to a funeral?” Most often, it’s the tropical vacation that comes to mind. Maybe because I’m always up for a tropical vacation (and NEVER a funeral). I might even “play out” the itinerary in my mind for such a tropical getaway. Will they stay in a hotel room or house right on the ocean? Will they get dressed up and go to a delicious seafood dinner? Will they go snorkeling? Will they sit all day in their beach chair and read a book? I can picture the beach and feel the bright sun. I can even hear the waves. In my opinion, it’s a great imagination game. It doesn’t even last that long. Airplanes travel pretty fast you know. Watching one cross the sky only takes about five to ten minutes. That’s usually as long as I spend on it really. I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s relaxing and it’s fun. Yet, I have also wondered if this mind game is a healthy one. Does this pastime mean I don’t want to be where I am in that moment? Am I truly wishing I was somewhere else or with someone else other than the person or people sitting right next to me? Is “airplane watching” a bad thing? I didn’t REALLY think the answer was yes. But, I went ahead and did a little research anyway.
It turns out I’m not just into “airplane watching”. I’m into daydreaming. And when I searched daydreaming online, I liked most of what I learned. No less than five online articles point to it’s benefits. Did you know daydreaming can lesson stress and anxiety? And have you read that It can also help you use diverse parts of your brain and even be more creative? More focused? Athletes as well as the rest of us can use it to improve performance and reach goals. A daydream can give you the mind break you need to get refreshed and refocused for an important task. It does have it’s downsides. Think of the teacher trying to get AND KEEP the attention of a daydreaming third grader. There is apparently also a mental disorder called Maladaptive Daydreaming. Those who daydream four to six hours of a day might have that. But, for the most part studies prove daydreaming is a healthy way to spend some time. That’s good to know because I really love watching those airplanes cross the sky. It’s so relaxing to watch and let my mind wonder. I’ve been doing this for years and I think this practice of daydreaming is catching on in my home. Just the other day as my daughter and I were laying out by the pool on warm, sunny, clear Summer day she spotted me watching an airplane and asked out loud the thought that usually crosses my mind, “I wonder where THEY’RE going?”
