“I know what you’re thinking.”
Ever have anyone do that to you? Somehow they splash right into the big puddle of your thoughts and you suddenly feel exposed.
Your first unspoken reaction could likely be, “You do? You know what I am thinking? Oh, no.”
Then just as suddenly you relax. Of course they can’t read your mind. They can only guess.
Now this does happen at appropriate times. Someone close to you sidles up. They can see you are somewhere else. Your mind has wandered. So they interrupt gently.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
(Why is it always just a penny? Shouldn’t our thoughts be a bit more valuable? More like a million bucks for your thoughts.)
What’s interesting about these exchanges is the response. Now please tell me if I’m wrong about this. But I think the typical reaction is to dodge and weave.
In other words, we do not reveal what we are thinking. We make something up. Or simply shrug it off with, “Oh, nothing important.”
This can easily lead into, “Are you OK?” Followed by the quick response, “Yes. I’m fine.”
It’s interesting how we can be tied up on the inside, frustrated, angry, confused or afraid or even in pain but then tell someone who actually cares, “Oh, I’m fine. Really.”
I see this display of human nature ad nauseam in movie and TV storylines. Someone faces a terrible problem or dilemma or a danger they just discovered and should warn everyone about.
And for some reason they don’t talk about it.
I admit, I do yell at the TV screen more than I should, demanding, “Tell them. Just tell them! Tell them you saw an alien eating their dog.”
I believe all of us live in a world of secret thoughts. Not so much that we are hiding secrets (and we all do). But that we consider our world of thoughts a private place.
A sacred place, where we are alone and safe. So, of course, we can be a bit startled when someone says, “Hey, I know what you’re thinking.”
It’s like someone is rattling the doorknob, pounding on your locked door.
Writers in the horror genre should play with this concept more. I think the terror potential is pretty high.
Try this scenario, for example. You’re at a dinner gathering. Perhaps a big family Thanksgiving meal. Or a retirement party for a fellow employee.
Now imagine that everyone can read the minds of others in the room. They could read your mind.
Oh my. Now tell me that would not be a real nightmare. Ha.
I think it’s common for people to want to know what others think about them. I mean really think about them.
But ... would that be a good idea? I’m thinking no. No-no.
There’s a lot of good reasons why all those thoughts bouncing around in our head should be kept under guard.
Admit it. Some of your random thoughts are mean. Many are kind of revealing. And, crazy as it sounds, lots of those thoughts just show up.
(It’s a dangerous game to play: Say the first thing that pops into your mind.)
Can you imagine if we had to be accountable for our thoughts. What if thoughts were traceable? Think about that. (Well, not out loud.)
What a terrible super power to have ... reading minds. Plugging into someone’s train of thought would produce a lot noise and static.
My stream of consciousness does not always translate into complete sentences.
I’ve been rambling ... spilling out some of that noise. Letting you into my mind for a while. Just for a while.
Writing it down does help organize the clatter in the brain.
Thanks for paying attention. Of course, now I’d give a million bucks to know what you’re thinking. Oh – wait. Now I get it.
Make that a penny for your thoughts.
LONNY CAIN, of Ottawa, is the retired managing editor of The Times. Email to lonnyjcain@gmail.com or mail The Times, 110 W. Jefferson St., Ottawa, IL 61350.