Where does your wandering mind go?

While I was lying in bed a couple nights ago I spent about half-an-hour planning this post in my head. This is why I can never sleep. I'm noticing a pattern in my mind-wanderings, and I wanted to get your input and maybe get some clues as to how peoples minds work the same or differently to one anothers. I've always thought it would be a fascinating experiment to experience someone else's existence for a day, including their thoughts and perceptions. This is as close as I can get.

So, even when I'm not trying to let my mind wander, it inevitably starts projecting future scenarios. I think of something that I need to do or something that is going to happen in the future, and I play it out in my head usually to its awesomest possible outcome. If I need to tell someone something, I play out the conversation in my head. If I am planning on submitting to an agent the next day, I lie in bed and play out what I need to do to personalize my query letter, sending it, the letter that would be awesome to get the next day, the questions I need to remember to ask when I talk to the Agent-Who-Will-Love-Me-Tomorrow, etc. If it's a big deal type of thing, sometimes it will go on repeat and I can't shut it off. Or sometimes it will go to the next thing. Like I'll get done with the agent scenario and then remember that I'm supposed to have a guest post for another blog in the next couple weeks, so I'll think about that until I've basically written the whole thing in my head. Then I'll think about how it would be cool to learn guitar and play out that scenario until I end up imaging myself busking on my trusty six-string in the streets of a big city and earning some fun money.

The mind of an insomniac, I am telling you. Also the mind of a person who must be very, very careful not to base life decisions on one evening of Awesomest Possible Outcome. It can take the Real Life ground out from under you pretty fast. That's not a super fun experience, but hopefully I've learned.

Anyway, how does it work for you? Do you think about past events, reminisce? Are you one of those horribly wonderful people who spend time thinking about other people and how they're feeling? Do you make lists? Do you dwell and mentally pick at scabs? I want to know. I want to know what its like to be in someone else's head.

A penny for your thoughts.

Sarah Allen