Working through this activity has made me think about the processes that I go through in order to complete a simple task such as walking across the room.
I realise now that the first thing I do is to survey the space through which I must move: what is the surface like in relationship to me, going up, going down or staying level, as this will influence the mental state with which I approach the task and hence determine the amount of energy I devote to doing it. While doing this I find my attention drawn to objects along the way that perhaps should not be there and so may need to be moved. I remember an old sketch of Billy Connolly, where, reflecting on the mobility issues coming with older age, bends down to pick something up and asks himself if there is anything else he needs to do while he is down there.
Next, I had a think about the objects along the way, around which I needed to navigate, shelves, a sofa, etc
Finally, I made a decision about whether or not to do the activity after all. Perhaps it was all going to be too much and it would be better just to stay sitting where I was.
Phew, so much thinking and so many decisions about my interrelationship with the floor and obstacles, and I had not even thought about them.
