Lovely essay and it seems like Mrs Klim was just the teacher you needed at the time.
I found myself pondering the question of daydreaming and I came to the conclusion that I most often spent time in thought on family road trips in the summer. I would invent scenarios and stories to amuse myself if I couldn’t read (carsick) or if everyone was tired of me singing along to the radio! As I’ve gotten older I found that worrying and obsessing has taken the place of daydreaming. But I’d like to change that.
(Also I have neither read the books or seen the movie/series but now I am intrigued!).
I think I definitely take up more brain space with rumination rather than daydreaming, and I've been working on trying to shift my focus.
I definitely recommend checking out the movie - I was sad they never made more to finish the story, but it's still great as a standalone. The TV series is really good, too. I'm looking forward to the books, I've heard good things from anyone I know who has read them.
Thank you! Yes, I think a lot of it was adaptive! But I also think at least some of it was a bit of a problem. I used it to make myself feel safe, and less lonely, which was helpful, but it has also sometimes gotten to the point where it's hard for me to do much else. I definitely think that's more a symptom of a larger problem, though, not that it's inherently harmful.
I don't know all the details, and I can't speak for you. But when that happens to me I would classify that experience as a shut down. My brain retreating to its inner world because it can't cope with what's going on externally. I would interpret that as a fault of the environment rather than a maladaptive coping strategy. Just sharing a different perspective because we're so often told we are the problem when environments aren't accessible rather than the other way around.
This is a beautiful essay, and the poem echoes it magnificently (I love how the poem's structure also mirrors the shallow to deep theme, so clever!). I wonder if Mrs. Klim was herself neurodivergent (and likely undiagnosed at that time), making her especially attuned to you and maybe giving rise to those frequent headaches and a need for a calm classroom. In any case, I'm so glad she saw you in your depths <3
Re: A series of unfortunate events- I made the mistake of reading the first few books before watching the movie in '04. I was disappointed. I prefer the Netflix series done more recently since it's closer to the books, but I love the books and I do like the movie as well.
Re: teachers- this is the perfect post during teacher appreciation week. That teacher really saw you and I love that.
Re: daydreaming- I was a daydreamer and its how I survived school. I do it less now, though maybe I should go to that more intentionally. I've been avoiding my headspace for a while, probably time to go back to it.
I enjoyed the Netflix series, but it was hard to be as attached to the characters because I just adored the 2004 casting. I'm glad I'll be reading the books after so it couldn't ruin the movie for me lol.
I didn't even realize it was teacher appreciation week! It feels really serendipitous that I was reminded of her this week.
It definitely feels harder to make space for daydreaming now, but I think it's good for me.
Lovely essay and it seems like Mrs Klim was just the teacher you needed at the time.
I found myself pondering the question of daydreaming and I came to the conclusion that I most often spent time in thought on family road trips in the summer. I would invent scenarios and stories to amuse myself if I couldn’t read (carsick) or if everyone was tired of me singing along to the radio! As I’ve gotten older I found that worrying and obsessing has taken the place of daydreaming. But I’d like to change that.
(Also I have neither read the books or seen the movie/series but now I am intrigued!).
I think I definitely take up more brain space with rumination rather than daydreaming, and I've been working on trying to shift my focus.
I definitely recommend checking out the movie - I was sad they never made more to finish the story, but it's still great as a standalone. The TV series is really good, too. I'm looking forward to the books, I've heard good things from anyone I know who has read them.
Oh, and I only discovered Series of Unfortunate Events as an adult. The books are wondrous!
So excited to read them! It'll be a while. I'm actually going to be starting the Wheel of Time series soon!
Ooooooo! Very exciting!
Love this post so much. I would argue you were engaging in ADAPTIVE daydreaming, but neurotypicals love to pathologize our helpful adapations.
Thank you! Yes, I think a lot of it was adaptive! But I also think at least some of it was a bit of a problem. I used it to make myself feel safe, and less lonely, which was helpful, but it has also sometimes gotten to the point where it's hard for me to do much else. I definitely think that's more a symptom of a larger problem, though, not that it's inherently harmful.
I don't know all the details, and I can't speak for you. But when that happens to me I would classify that experience as a shut down. My brain retreating to its inner world because it can't cope with what's going on externally. I would interpret that as a fault of the environment rather than a maladaptive coping strategy. Just sharing a different perspective because we're so often told we are the problem when environments aren't accessible rather than the other way around.
Thank you so much. 🧡
This is a beautiful essay, and the poem echoes it magnificently (I love how the poem's structure also mirrors the shallow to deep theme, so clever!). I wonder if Mrs. Klim was herself neurodivergent (and likely undiagnosed at that time), making her especially attuned to you and maybe giving rise to those frequent headaches and a need for a calm classroom. In any case, I'm so glad she saw you in your depths <3
Thank you, Keith! I've wondered that, myself. But whatever the reason, I'm grateful.
Re: A series of unfortunate events- I made the mistake of reading the first few books before watching the movie in '04. I was disappointed. I prefer the Netflix series done more recently since it's closer to the books, but I love the books and I do like the movie as well.
Re: teachers- this is the perfect post during teacher appreciation week. That teacher really saw you and I love that.
Re: daydreaming- I was a daydreamer and its how I survived school. I do it less now, though maybe I should go to that more intentionally. I've been avoiding my headspace for a while, probably time to go back to it.
I enjoyed the Netflix series, but it was hard to be as attached to the characters because I just adored the 2004 casting. I'm glad I'll be reading the books after so it couldn't ruin the movie for me lol.
I didn't even realize it was teacher appreciation week! It feels really serendipitous that I was reminded of her this week.
It definitely feels harder to make space for daydreaming now, but I think it's good for me.