I throw my hand in my pocket in search of warmth.
I just want to point something out
Do you notice your energy right now?
I’m parked at the side of the road, four lanes of motorbikes speeding past
It’s loud
On a call with Rhino
It’s not one of our serious, ‘what’s going on with school’ conversations.
This one flows and we dart between topics.
Footie, the FA cup, his trip to Burnaby. He shares a photo of he and his friends, nine deep, goofy goggles worn by everyone.
It’s an easy, flowing conversation.
He is awake, alert, full of energy
And I attempt to connect some dots for him
What did you do today?
Well
he pauses
Mostly, just played Footie
Yeah
Are you aware of the energy that you have right now?
Yeah
Chase that dopamine, boss
Dopamine has been on my brain lately
Literally, and figuratively.
The dope we get on a daily is mostly not the stuff we need.
I do it
He does it.
If you are a person in possession of a dumb smart phone
Your pusher is right inside your pocket.
But, mercifully, there are other forms available to us.
We part ways, I get back on the road. Dart and drift through traffic on my way home.
I reflect back on our chat as I slide the spigot
and spray fresh water on the bamboo and other plants in our entryway.
This is always been satisfying for me, but I didn’t always realize why
A sense of taking care, of connecting with things, of feeling that I am valued
follow me
And I realize, once again, that this hit of dopamine is not found in my pocket.
Get Up Eight 
Clever title. Excellent line: “Your pusher is right inside your pocket.” That’s the understatement of the month. As much as I enjoy this challenge every year, it also means my reading life suffers, and I spend more time in my phone, which is where I write my posts and how I comment. I think my husband has become accustomed to it, but…
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Yep. We’ve entered a whole new universe where we rationalize our addiction by the practical things we can do with these wicked devices. “It’s my alarm clock so I need it in my bedroom” is something I hear way too often, like we haven’t had alarm clocks for a century.
Appreciate you stopping by and reading and the thoughtful comments always. 🙂
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So well crafted poem. I confess to having too much attachment to my phone. Knowing this allows me to find other ways to seek joy.
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I took some classes last year, many focusing on the brain. You brought me right back to some of those lectures and conversations. You are so wise to share these realizations with Rhino and be aware yourself.
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This is poignant and powerful and beautifully stated. This line, “The dope we get on a daily is mostly not the stuff we need.” had me intrigued and reading for more. A good reminder for all of us.
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A great slice especially the ending where you connect with your plants through the power of taking care of them.
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So many good analogies and life lessons here. The “pusher is right inside your pocket” states a sad truth. Clever and insightful writing, per your style.
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Really powerful message through your words here – the pusher in your pocket . . . Wow. We need to keep pausing and thinking about this … it’s so hard to fight the pull some days.
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