Rare luxury is free, but not easy to find

It was Socrates who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” but I’m thinking, easy for him to say. He lived 400 years B.C. What did he have to distract him from his meditations, his writings and his philosophizing? Did his phone ring? Did people try to friend him?

In ancient Greece, some men farmed or worked in trades. Others were involved in political life or the arts. Children entertained themselves with simple toys. There were no screens, unless you count the side of a rock. Women stayed close to home and were confined to domestic activities. A guy like Socrates, a man devoted to the life of the mind, had plenty of time to think.

Fast-forward 2,400 years. Consider for a moment the discoveries, inventions, technologies and creations that have changed our world over this relatively brief time in human history. Can we call it progress if we can’t afford the one luxury that Socrates enjoyed every day of his life? Most people I know don’t have any time to think.

As you read this, I invite you to think, even for a few moments, about how much time you actually spend contemplating ideas. Most of us are caught in a high-speed routine of doing the most tasks we can fit into the least time. We kid ourselves into believing that we can actually do more than one thing at a time, which no one can. Witness the proliferation of auto crashes when drivers attempt to drive and text at the same time.

My mom and dad have been visiting for a while. Dad, 93, was in the backyard this morning, sitting in a chair, wide awake, just looking around. I went out to ask what he was doing and he said he was “just thinking.” How excellent.

I must admit, I do allow myself time to think. Not worry. Not perseverate. I just think about stuff I come across. I do this thinking at the beach, or sitting outside on the porch, or often while walking. Pity the walkers on their phones or bebopping to music. I set aside this time for mental exercise because it feels so wonderful to just cogitate without interruption.