I was sitting in my Management Communications class on the first day of this semester awaiting the good news about what the class would hold. While we were discussing the different course criteria, Bro. Clarke asked a question to a specific man in the class (my apologies to the man in my class because I do not know your name). The man responded by saying, "Sorry, I checked out. What was the question?" Bro. Clarke, being the kind and loving person that he is, replied with a witty, "Where did you go?" The man didn't really catch what Bro. Clarke said, but I had a good chuckle about it. However, the question grabbed my attention and I am sad to say that I didn't hear much of anything else that Bro. Clarke had to say. I have to admit, if Bro. Clarke would have asked me a question, I would have had a similar response as my fellow class mate (Even more funny than that would be the fact that my response to Bro. Clarke's question of my mental whereabouts would have been something along the lines of, "I was thinking about where I go when I check out.").
In consequence of Bro. Clarke's question, I have thought long and hard about where I go when I "check out." So here you have it:
First, I would have to say that the great majority of my "check out"'s find me on the golf course. I think about my swing, my gear, my technique, my putting, etc. Basically I am playing a round of nine in my head. It isn't as enjoyable as really playing, but since I am stuck in class, it is the next best thing.
Second, I find myself focusing on a specific sentence or thought from the lecture. I can't help myself when it comes to funny or intriguing ideas and thoughts. It is like that thinking game where you start thinking about one object and then continue to think for a specified amount of time. At the end, whoever is playing the game reports on where they "ended up" and their mental road map that led to their destination.
Third, I often visit places that I have never before visited: Fiji, Hawaii, Ogden, etc. Those thoughts usually end with a bid sigh and a rock-bottom re-entrance into reality. However, they are fun to visit on occasion.
Finally, I often find myself planning out my day. I will "check out" for a personal planning session to make sure I am on track to accomplish everything that is asked of me that day and the coming week. I am not particularly fond of these mental journeys, but I guess everyone has to deal with the boring stuff. Maybe next time I will think about my daily plans while I picture being on Mars. That would shake things up a bit!
So, as is tradition, I cannot have all of the fun. I want to know where you go when you check out? somewhere fun? somewhere exotic? somewhere boring? or maybe somewhere only you can go! I want to hear about it!