We should do more of it, really. But we don’t. Because it’s hard.

I find organising my thoughts into a sensible and coherent order is like trying to put an octopus in a string bag. Just when you think you’ve nailed it, schlooop, one tentacle slips out the gap and waves around, taunting you. Yeats said it rather more elegantly in The Wild Swans at Coole:

Hands, do what you’re bid;
Bring the balloon of the mind
That bellies and drags in the wind
Into its narrow shed.

Even Yeats found thinking hard and he was brainier than most. Why bother then? Yes, you guessed it: I’ve been thinking. I’ve come up with four reasons:

First reason: scientists say keeping our brains active staves off dementia, and I’m all in favour of growing old without joining Club Veg.

Second reason (scientists, again): using our brains makes us brainier. We grow more neuro-pathways and suchlike. A few sessions of Sudoku may not turn us into Stephen Hawking but isn’t it nice to know we’re all capable of becoming smarter?

Third reason: you might come up with some good ideas. All the world’s good ideas started in someone’s head. Why not yours?

Fourth reason: thinking gives us more power. Because when we think, we question: Why does this happen? Is this a good thing? Is there a better way? If we’re thinking and questioning all the time, then we need never accept less than we’d like to. That applies to what we do personally, and to what is done to us (or on our behalf) by political organisations, businesses, marketers, lobbyists, our neighbours, friends and family.

I’m pretty sure that some of you are now thinking: but I have enough to do just going to work, looking after the kids, and trying to get to the gym. You’re thinking: after all that, I’d rather just switch off and blob out.

Same here. Sometimes, I just want to surf Failblog, watch Doctor Who, read Agatha Christie, or have a glass of wine. Sometimes all four at once.

But I also feel that if something is worth doing, you can make time and give it a go.

At least think about it.

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