Defining Personal Space
January 14th, 2005
In my daily and oh so usual; “waiting for a train ponder”, I found myself defining what we understand by personal space. What I realized in through trying to define where such a space or significance to that space could be generated, I came to the simple understanding that the space is not a space but a time or a space in time lets call it: “personal period”.
We all need this personal period to digest events in either the past, present or future. Granted, some need more than others, and those who do not have that space generally seem to be those who are nervous, temperamental or just damn right out-of-Zen with themselves. This thought lead me to wonder about those who are in a perpetual denial of PP. For example, say: my sister, she admits to the fact she fears being alone to deal with the thoughts she may think. She consequently spends every waking moment either on the phone, speaking to someone (even those she doesn’t enjoy the company of), or occupied with tasks that require 100% concentration. Those of you who may have heard a mention of her or have met her would know she is highly strung and relentlessly argumentative. So this whole “denying yourself time to digest your own thoughts” makes me wonder what if she was left in a different environment in which all she did have was time to digest, say a deserted island, beyond survival there is a whole load of nothing to do when you’re on your own, apart from thinking.
I guess saying that “I think we all should find a fair compromise between the two and indulge in neither, that would be a good thing”, would be just damn right obvious. Look at me for example, I am the complete inverse of my sister, I have more time on my hands than I have thoughts to occupy it with and eventually find and create problems for myself to linger on just to keep my sanity (should I still have it). There isn’t a conclusion to this article, I’m merely bringing forth the idea of personal space and wondering whether there is a fair compromise and how one could keep in that level.
I’ve just come back to add a little more to this as I have just remembered that there is another detail to personal period that is absolutely essential. Personal period comprises of undisturbed time, and I guess familiar surroundings that makes the individual comfortable, this is probably where the “space” part comes in to the “personal space” bit. Although, previously mentioning that I have excessive amounts of time on my hands, that would be a complete lie. Where I live, I’m perpetually distracted and caused grief by the external noises and disturbances that affect my humble abode; for example: recorded telephone calls catching you when you’re concentrating on something that would seem important at the time they sends me miles out of sync. Junk mail feeding through my door as if it were on a conveyor belt (I always chase the immigrants out of the stairwell with abuse), the washing machine from the people downstairs, screaming of children and lastly emergency service sirens piercing the silence 24 hours of the day.
My personal space of my room and the time on my hands does not mean I’m a settled or a well adjusted person, it just reflects on how frustrated I am, as all I wish to do is resolve my troubled mind.
This article is so inconclusive! hehe