Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel……
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind!
~ from the lyrics of ‘The Windmills of Your Mind.
There are many versions of this song and I’m currently listening to the Eva Mendes version which you can find here.
What got me listening to this song after long time, are my reflections this morning. As I wrote my morning pages
I confess now that I am an ‘over-thinker’! I tend to overthink and over analyse events, situations and possible outcomes of present decisions’! But there’s one particular thought that struck me last night and it troubled me for a while. The question : what am I contributing to the world?
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily events of life. “What should I cook for lunch?” “We need to buy laundry detergent.” “Pablo is due for a vaccine.” Hmmm… Each of these activities are important in themselves, but last night I began to wonder where they fit into the overall picture of the meaning of my life. Surely, when I die, no one is going to remember what I cooked for lunch on Sunday, May 7th, are they? No, I am not unhappy doing any of these things, just wondering how they matter?
And so the windmills kept on churning until I fell asleep.
Now to come to my reflections this morning. I realized that I am contributing something unique to the world – just by being me. The seemingly mundane tasks of my every day are all part of a larger picture.
It’s all a matter of perspective. You can see life as a series of chores. Or you can choose to believe that all the little tasks are meaningful in themselves and all add up to a much bigger picture that is your life. I recall this story:
“Three people were at work on a construction site.All were doing the same job, but when each was asked what the job was, the answers varied.
‘Breaking rocks,’ the first replied.
‘Earning my living,’ the second said.
‘Helping to build a cathedral,’ said the third.”
– Peter Schultz
I know that I’ll think of something to over-think about soon enough! How do the windmills of your mind work?
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Those windmills are very much my mind the majority of the time. But I like that comparison because they’re majestic and make up my days! #mg
I had a listen to the song, it’s lovely i and never heard of it before now. I think if we make a difference to someones life in a positive way then we are living a meaningful life xx #mg
Overthinker and catastrophiser here too. But busyness means I am generally exhausted by bedtime and shut down. I loved that final quote about meaning…it’s something to think about!
Great post! I used to stay awake over little things that happened at work. It’s such a relief to be retired (at least for now we’re managing!). Thanks for weighing in on my slip of the tongue. I think telling my friend to “breathe” would have been more appropriate in person. We were all on a conference call. Because Google Chat enlarges the main speaker’s image upon our computer screens I had to sort of interrupt to get her attention.
If only there’s a pause button in my mind. I’m guilty of overthinking too. Maybe that’s one reason why I write. To get those ideas and thoughts out. 😀
Beautiful read as usual, Corinne.
So true — the world would be a different place without you in it. Our existence is our contribution. Not all changes need to be huge, world-altering changes.
I hate those thoughts that keep me from sleeping. But you are right about finding a meaning to your life rather than just living through it mechanically. And yes, we all matter even those who don’t do anything but watch things go by. After all if everyone has a Mercedes, who will watch them drive by?
Reading the lines from that song made me immediately think of insomnia. The windmills of my mind can get pretty busy at night sometimes!
Lovely post and photo. Beautiful poem / song too. Thanks gor sharing.
Loved the story, perspective is such a differentiator. I think i am not a over-thinker. When i am angry on someone, Then only i think a lot.
Corinne, you express your feelings in an interesting way. I skip through lines while reading some blogs but never in your blog.
Loved the story at the end – perspective is what defines us – the way we choose to put ourselves in this life, the umpteen number of tiny and not-so-tiny tasks that we do – every thing has a place, and a significance……but most important perhaps is the perspective we keep, for it changes the whole picture.
Perspective is the operative word as I tend to over think EVERY thing. But, in my defense, I am a planner and planners do that. Planners are people other people depend on and play an important part in the day-to-day family life. As Shilpa said, the little things lead to the making of the bigger picture. When I die, my family will remember how important it was for them to have wonderful meals, a clean and organized home, and someone who would remember to pick up the dry cleaning or feed the dog. But they may not remember what I made for dinner last week; heck, I don’t even remember. It mattered then, not now. That is what counts.
I loved the little book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, as it helped me realize that if I missed a meal or a chore it was okay. I didn’t have to beat myself up about it. Here comes the perspective part. I have learned that the little things are important but I don’t have to fret if something is not done. In that, I can find security.
A quote that has stuck with me over the years is: 100 years from now, you will be dirt. Does it really matter? Maybe not then, but I will continue to put things in their proper perspective for now.
Carol Graham recently posted..Return the Child – He Is Not Yours to Keep (Use Your Words May 2014)
I love this and the final quote. Just what I needed to read today. I had no idea that there were so many versions of that song or that Eva Mendes even sang.
Corinne,
What a great story to illustrate such a fundamental idea — even the most simple or seemingly unimportant task can really be something. It just depends on our perspective. It’s funny how we can allow the windmills of the mind can keep churning, as you put it. Mine have done both — churning out repeated self-defeating thoughts that don’t serve me, which I don’t enjoy, and churning out repeated self-empowering thoughts, which I love much more. Thanks for the great lesson today.
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Fascinating, did you see my painting from a few weeks ago- The spinning wheels of my mind? I love the quote from Peter Schultz always a great reminder. I have learned that i need to go within or go to the beach helps. As you say allowing it to be part of you is important too
namaste
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