Sorting my mineral samples finally cleared my head.

Spent Sunday arranging everything by hardness. For once, my brain feels as orderly as the display.

3 comments

3 Comments

Sometimes a strict system just gives your anxiety a new job. You end up worrying about getting the categories perfect instead of enjoying the rocks. All that focus on the rules can make you miss the cool, weird details that don't fit the scale. It trades one kind of noise for another, quieter one.

dylanellis1mo ago

That part about your brain feeling as orderly as the display really clicked for me. It's like you used the strict, external rule of the hardness scale to quiet the internal noise. There's something about submitting to a clear, set system that stops you from overthinking. You're not making any choices based on feelings, just following the numbers. It forces a kind of focus that leaves no room for the messy stuff. Kind of brilliant, really.

the_susan1mo ago

Yeah, that "submitting to a clear system" thing is so real. It reminds me of how I alphabetize my spice rack, which @jamieclark would probably say is missing the point of cooking! But it just makes my brain quiet down for a minute.