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george2 · 08-15-2005, 09:36 AM

It started out innocently enough...

I began to think at parties now and then - to loosen up. Inevitably,
though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a
social thinker.
I began to think alone - - "to relax," I told myself. But I knew it
wasn't true.
Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was
thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home.
One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning
of life. She spent that night at her mother's. I began to think on the
job.

I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop
myself.
I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and
Kafka.
I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it
exactly we are doing here?"
One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it
hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If
you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job."
This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my
conversation with the boss.
"Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."
"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "

But Honey, surely it's not that serious." " It is serious," she said, lower
lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors and college
professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't
have any money!" " That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently.

She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to
deal with the emotional drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as
I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some
Nietzsche. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran
up to the big glass doors. They didn't open. The library was closed.
To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that
night. Leaning on the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a
poster caught my eye. "Friend, Is Heavy Thinking ruining your life?" it
asked.
You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's
Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering
thinker.
I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational
video. Last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how
we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I still have my job, and
things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed. easier, somehow,
as soon as I stopped thinking. I believe the road to recovery is nearly
complete for me.

Today, I registered to vote as a Republican.

08-15-2005, 09:36 AM	#1
george2 Collector Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: DCA-IAD/PHX/MIA Posts: 285	Thinking about it.... It started out innocently enough... I began to think at parties now and then - to loosen up. Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker. I began to think alone - - "to relax," I told myself. But I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's. I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?" One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..." "I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" " But Honey, surely it's not that serious." " It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!" " That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently. She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors. They didn't open. The library was closed. To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night. Leaning on the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, Is Heavy Thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video. Last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed. easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I believe the road to recovery is nearly complete for me. Today, I registered to vote as a Republican.