What car rides, fires and spas have in common.

"That's going straight to my blog!"

Was my line that reverberated through the metro today. Oh, was it ever a fist pump moment. After having Western movie-style stand off with the Myki (electronic ticket) machine; it reminding me to "remember the 3 T's", me looking at it with contempt thinking of what new excuse I can come up with for not having a ticket (The ratio of fines I have talked my way out of exceeds the amount of reminder notices I have received for the ones unpaid) 

The machine beat me, I decided to buy one and touch on, instead of being a travel ninja and fare evading.

As soon as I minded the gap I was asked to produce this shiny new Myki by a mufti transport officer. They're the toothache of police coz you don't see them until they cause you pain. When I exclaimed how stoked I was that I'd let the machine win he said "it's easy if you do the right thing".....

See that's a tough one.

"The right thing" is different to many people. Some say it can change in different situations, or times....such as washing your morning Jasmine green tea down with vodka probably is not 'the right thing'.

But washing your evening Long Island iced tea down with vodka is.

When the likes of #justsayn #YOLO and #sorrynotsorry becoming as common as chai lattes in some social circles, "the right thing" is really just another one of those Blurred Lines. 

This is not the can of worms I want to open on here as I have concluded that there are certain places or situations there the discussions about "what is what" in life are much better suited. 

Long car rides

Open fires

Sunsets

Whilst painting a wall/building a fence

Under the stars

and strangely, spa baths

These things bring back fond memories of profound theories and some stories so scary. Looking through history all the wives tales were told over the sink and family legends and history around the fire. I guess for us now the lack of distractions and singular point of focus without forced eye contact (the road, the fire, the wall etc) is what makes us relaxed and open to trust and talk.

Also, there aren't many easy escapes or distractions in these situations, and if things don't want to be discussed; staring silently at the stars or relaxing in the spa are perfectly acceptable, unlike having a deep conversation in the kitchen in that 5 minutes between finishing breakfast and leaving the house.

As individual we can have these places which are like our chamber of secrets; where we go to reflect and share all our worries. I was talking to a friend about this and we could both name actual places which we sought confidence in. 

It's pretty special isn't it?

In our world where there are endless clairvoyants, psychologists and self help books, a yarn over an open fire or daily walks by the river can make us think and make us happy.

Here I am writing the end of this on the train, and am lucky enough to have the chirpiest driver who called it a "Metro mystery tour"

I wonder where his thinking place is....

Jj