Overcoming inertia

To initiate motion of any kind from non-motion requires a tremendous expenditure of energy. Things don't just up and start moving on their own. When any kind of electric motor first gets the idea that it is going to have to turn there is an enormous sucking of current from the power source. So much so that you sometimes see a dimming of the lights or momentary blackout from the energy draw. Once it is started, it generally takes way less energy just to stay in motion.

When the battery state of charge is so low that it cannot provide the sufficient output to initiate the beginning of motion, the battery will often die, or fail, completely. You turn the key and the starter engages and attempts to turn once. It catches, but slogs down like a turntable with a brick placed on it. Subsequent turning of the key only yields fainter and fainter clicks. Then nothing.

You could keep turning the key forever at that point and nothing would ever happen again. Until the battery is recharged (or replaced) there will be no results.

That took longer to describe than it was worth. I just wanted to relate this analogy to my seemingly immobile state of late. Nothing seems to be charging my batteries these days. My weekly ritual does help, but it is a temporary little wind up that quickly unwinds as the effects of the initiating substances (caffeine, THC or alcohol) wear off. So no miracles there. And there are the obvious downsides or side effects such as becoming an addict, or just plain dumb, in the process.

This all sounded much wiser in my head, now that I see it fleshed out, it seems a bit weak. I thought of it while cleaning my dusty, cat-hair collectors, aka curtains. I was going about my minimum weekly vacuuming, while high on coffee and weed. The thought occurred to me that I "may as well take these filthy old rags out for a good shake." Not the monumental achievement of the decade, but something.

Inertia overcome, but at the price of a few brain cells. I suppose one could argue that it was the thought, followed by the decision to act on the thought that overcame the inertia. The problem with me and my thoughts is usually that I will discount and discard any ideas that have the slightest downside or unpleasantness to them. This effectively short circuits the process right at the start. Sometimes having fewer thoughts, or acting on the first thought that comes into one's head, is a good thing.

Other times not so much. After my brainstorm of drapery cleaning, I noticed my BB gun sitting forlorn and dusty, propped up against the wall. I dusted it off and promptly engaged an hour long shooting battle with a Pepsi can. You win some, you lose some. I did eventually win the battle with the aluminum can. I can't say whether or not it was worth the hour and the ammo expenditure. I feel a lot more like "The Rifleman" than I probably ought to, with my Daisy spring action single pump can killer.

I did eventually get back to the cleaning, after the threat of the beverage container was thoroughly eradicated.