OPINION: When your mind just won’t rest

Since our new canine family member arrived last year, she and I have been walking every morning.

This started as a way to calm her down (ha!) but then became a health commitment for me. The dog is still crazy.

Early morning walks should be the perfect time to appreciate the nature around me, the sunrise, bird calls, plants and more.

The only problem I have is with the voice in my head, which I have named, “Will you please shut up!”. For the benefit of those who prefer acronyms let’s go with WYPSU (pronounced Whipsue).

Whipsue is like having a nagging person tagging along with me.

The minute I set out it starts and just never lets up for the entire walk. Whether it’s harping on about what’s for dinner tonight, when I’m actually going to clean the bathroom, whether I’ve answered the mail or whose birthday I may have forgotten, Whipsue just never lets up.

I mean, I can talk underwater with marbles in my mouth, but even I have to take a breath every so often. Not old Whipsue — it just keeps on going.

I’ve tried numerous methods to shut it up but not many are successful. Counting to 100 numerous times is a technique I’ve tried but it gets boring after a while and, as soon, as I pause, there’s good old Whipsue just waiting to butt in again.

Last week I resorted to saying the times tables. I’d always prided myself on being the times table queen but was a bit shocked to find myself actually having to think about the 12 x tables.

Still that wasn’t enough to keep Whipsue quiet for long.

Soon I was being asked what the hell had I wasted money on that course for and why did I eat all that chocolate in one sitting? Probably because of you Whipsue, truth be known.

In sheer desperation I started going through the alphabet but that was way too easy to drown out Whipsue so I had a brainwave.

I’d recite the alphabet backwards.

Well, hallelujah, something finally shut up Whipsue. My brain was in overdrive just trying to say the first three letters of the alphabet backwards.

Before I knew it I was back home and Whipsue had been drowned out for at least 30 minutes. What a win!

I do owe Whipsue one vote of thanks — for this week’s column!