Sitting in the Bar is a lonely guy called THINKING. He is discussing his ‘situation’ with the BARTENDER who has kindly offered to take him through a bit of roleplay.
The story continues…
INT. BAR – NIGHT
[ADVENTURES]
BARTENDER
Alright then Dough Boy, what’s your favourite food?
THINKING
Adventure!
BARTENDER
Hey? Adventure? Oh God!
(facepalm)
THINKING
Yup. I eat that stuff up for breakfast.
BARTENDER
(Shakes head)
THINKING
No seriously. Adventure is my sustenance.
BARTENDER
Are you sure you’re not a Dad, with jokes like that?
THINKING
Well.
BARTENDER
So what is it about adventures you like so much?
THINKING
I love to go to new places, talk to new people, listen to different music and read books outside what I normally do. I want to experience things. See things. Do…things.
Every time I go somewhere new and exciting I am inspired. I live off it. That’s why this job is killing me.
BARTENDER
You think you hate your job? Try being hit on night after night by guys with a mug uglier than yours!
THINKING
Sheesh harsh, you’re no oil painting yourself.
BARTENDER
That’s no way to treat a lady.
THINKING
Lady Schmady. I bet you photoshop all your pictures.
BARTENDER
Well, I can just imagine you sitting there, 80’s photo shoot, hand strategically placed on chin, knee propped on log or something, stuffed panther. Mullet. Always frozen in time. Just like that statue – The Thinker.
[HATES]
THINKING
I hate, hate , hate that damn Statue. The Thinker. I really despise that thing. I mean, can you think of anything more boring than sitting there, chin on hand on knee, constantly in a state of motionlessness, sobriety and stagnation like some bad piece of taxidermy.
BARTENDER
So you can’t sit still then? Do you have worms or something?
THINKING
Ha. No. Well maybe. Nah, jokes. Hey I’m all for a bit of couch time, but I got to get out there and be doing stuff.
BARTENDER
Yeah. Stuff is good.
The worst thing you could do for any creative pursuit is to try and sit there and think, be still, and force things to happen. Thinking works best when there is action and movement. Non action can be a premature ending.
BARTENDER
So when you go on these adventures. Do you fly solo or with a group, a friend or what?
[SOCIAL TYPE]
THINKING
I like to be around other people. If I go on my own I like to get out and meet people.
BARTENDER
(looks around)
Oh right. You and your imaginary friends.
THINKING
Nah they’ve deserted me. I would definitely say I am a social guy. I love having those, er, conjoined experiences.
BARTENDER
Conjoined experiences? Are you talking about Siamese twins, pervert?
THINKING
Hey they need love too.
BARTENDER
I guess so.
THINKING
Hey after a few drinks I’m anybody’s.
BARTENDER
(Hands over another Scotch)
THINKING
Oh I like you already.
(wink)
BARTENDER
So you’re a drinker then?
THINKING
I’ll admit, I do love to have a few drinks with friends. I’m a happy drunk, in the company of others. It loosens me up. My friends would say that I am loveable and just likes to share things, stories, ideas. I love working with people, but I also love the sound of my own voice. I just love to be around people. Socialise. Collaborate. Plan world domination. You know, the usual stuff.
The process of interaction and creative collaborative thinking helps to generate ideas, ones you may have never considered on your own. Bringing together other people’s perceptions, thoughts and ideas makes for a more rounded creative experience. Allow yourself to be manic, use chaos to find order. Voice your opinion, throw yourself at the problem or creative endeavour and see where it all will lead.
BARTENDER
Oh you’re one of those loud obnoxious types then are you?
[OUT LOUD]
THINKING
Obnoxious. Well most definitely. Haha. No. I would not really consider myself a loud person. It’s just that sometimes my best work, my best ideas are created when I am expressing myself out loud.
BARTENDER
I reckon you could get a little rowdy.I can just imagine you being that cheeky kid in school, the class clown. All loud and disruptive.
THINKING
Yeah, it’s true. Sometimes I am that LOUD drunk in the Pub putting on a show for everyone. But as soon as there is debate, as soon as we get to running our mouths off with all our ideas, not holding back, it’s fun. It’s a game.
When you don’t have time to deliberate over the problem or idea, and you have to answer back with whatever is on your mind, those thinking processes go into overdrive, the same way that adrenaline can make you do crazy things. When you have to think out loud. It’s like verbal brainstorming. Getting everything out without that filter. Sometimes you say some dumb shit but sometimes what you say triggers something else. And hearing stuff back always seems different as well.
[LEARNING STYLE]
THINKING
Ha well. That’s kind of true. Though I was only really disruptive when I was bored. Ask me to sit still I couldn’t but I do love to learn.
I Love to fill myself up with knowledge. But I want to touch and taste and smell and experience what I am learning about. Being told something is such a way and being told to sit and absorb just doesn’t cut it for me. And I if I can’t ask questions, or challenge an idea, or inquire further about a topic then I just get frustrated. I love to know everything about everything you know?
BARTENDER
I’m sure you do. You have stalker written all over you.
THINKING
What can I say? I am visual. I am auditory. Kinaesthetic. I really like to be involved in whatever it is I am doing, have the experience, feel immersed. Peering through windows is a favourite pastime of mine.
BARTENDER
The would explain the bottle of Windex in your back pocket.
THINKING
It’s Kool Aid actually.
But seriously, I would get very agitated if I had to sit still in a classroom without any movement.
And it’s why we learn best, when we’re actively involving our hands and our minds, despite what it is we may need to find a solution for or what it is we seek. Take time away from the actual act of creation or work and get involved in something that turns off those ‘thinking’ processes and switches on those ‘doing’ processes to get more work done, more ideas. Different and exciting pathways emerge. You learn as you go, you learn best whilst being on the playing field.
BARTENDER
So got any hidden talents?
THINKING
Well I’m not sure you would say it’s a hidden talent. But I am, generally, a great problem solver.
BARTENDER
Really, problem solver?
[PROBLEM SOLVER]
THINKING
You got a problem?
BARTENDER
As a matter of fact, I do have a problem. Can you help?
THINKING
Of course, I am THE problem solver. Well most of the time. I can solve just about anything! Try me!
BARTENDER
Can you solve a problem like Maria?
THINKING
Can anyone solve a problem like Maria?
BARTENDER
Ha. Probably not!
THINKING
As a problem solver I must tell you that I do have a thing for whiteboards, markers and post it notes. It’s true. Let me have them. Let me draw and write all over them. I want to see things, large and small. Big details, small details everything in between.
I need space and I need movement to work things out, not stuck at some desk ‘trying’ to figure stuff out. I need to be able to immerse myself in the problem, see the solutions, physically and mentally.
Anything else feels like death.
Those ideas and thoughts regarding what it is you have been working on, hovering over or slaving away at, will fall away to allow the imagination to fight down the conscious and more freely move towards an outcome, when you are allowed to move around.
BARTENDER
So then, what is one thing I don’t know about you…or wouldn’t really guess?” What is your guilty pleasure?
[GUILTY PLEASURE]
THINKING
I’m a little embarrassed to say, but only because of what others might think, that one of the things I love to do when I’m alone is colour in.
BARTENDER
So you’re the one who draws all over the place mats in restaurants?
THINKING
Busted!
You know, it may seem simple. It may seem childish. But have you ever needed to solve a problem small or large and yet the more you work on it the further the solution seems to be. As if you’re pushing it away?
BARTENDER
Sure I guess.
THINKING
If I need to take time out, I just get out my box of crayons, some colouring in books, or line art and begin to colour, trying to get the colours really vivid and thick. I like it because I can at one time switch off as the same time I am actively creating something, that doesn’t take much effort but I’ve had my best ideas come to me this way.
Try taking an image, some crayons or pencils whatever is your preference. And sit and colour. Think about the colours you’re using. Think about really covering up the image. If you’re using crayons get them down to nothing or near nothing. Focus on moving that hand. Those ideas in the back of your mind will start to move forward as if they want to witness what you are doing. They will want to say ‘hey, I’m still here.’ Once you have relaxed in that mode, one still full of action, ideas come faster, clearer.
BARTENDER
So. What do you think?
THINKING
I like you. You ask a lot of questions. I like that. So how’d I go?
BARTENDER
Not bad. Not bad. I’d say you’re a doer upperer. So what’s your next move playboy?
THINKING
Oh I have a plan!
Sometimes laying plans in place can help you to work towards a goal. Remember all the points above to help you achieve it. And good luck!
PS. Thinking left his job and found a new one where he could explore all the things he loves above. He is very happy and has found a nice girl to go on adventures with.