Often I tell someone I’m working and then they see me on Facebook and wonder WTF? They’re not being ignored, it’s just that is part of my working process: I have many projects running at the same time and work on each of them every day. I work alone and do the work of 3-4 people. When I have a few minutes free, yet not long enough to take on another task, I sneak onto FB and take a break.  If I didn’t take as many breaks as I take, I wouldn’t get as much done. I’m like the Chinese lettuce farmer who grew bitter lettuce yet wrote wonderful poetry. “Why not stop growing your bad lettuce and simply write your beautiful poetry all day long?” he was asked.  “That was impossible,” he said, “because if I did not grow such bitter lettuce, I wouldn’t be able to write such sweet poetry.” 

If I don’t take a lot of breaks, I burn out. When I’m scrolling idly through the FB news feed, or doing impromptu one card tarot readings, my mind settles out.  I’m on the phone so much of each day that I really enjoy the silence when I can get it.  It’s how I refuel: in the quiet, in nature, in the dark.  Right now, though, it’s not quiet at all. I’m looking out my office window to the courtyard and I can hear several choirs of crickets singing their heavenly song. I hear the windchime and the doves at the bird bath, the carolina wrens in the brush.  Just south of me I hear the highway, just east the rustle of the bamboo.  Minutes later I am revived and ready to jump back into billing, answering emails and creating display ads.  So when you see me on Facebook and I’ve told you I’m too busy for you right now, it’s the truth and I know you understand.