Letter From The Editor: The Great Escape
07/15/2003
It’s summer, and no sane person wants to be working in an office. We are located in Malibu, which makes being indoors even worse. While we are hunched over computers, the entire world is driving by in a convertible, headed for the beach.We yearn to be outdoors—lying on the sand, swinging in a hammock, swimming in warm water, sipping margaritas. But an endless summer of surfing is not a realistic option, so all I can do is stare out the window and daydream.
Daydreaming is not, as most people think, a waste of time. Daydreaming has, in fact, been scientifically proven to improve creativity. The best-run companies recognize that brain naps are a good antidote for information overload. According to Informit.com, executives spend 30 percent of their time reading and sorting through information, 80 percent of which is forgotten in 24 hours. For most adults, the ultimate luxury is having time to daydream. And summer is the only time of year when guilt-free daydreaming is acceptable behavior.
F. Diane Barth points out in Daydreaming: Unlock the Creative Power of Your Mind (Penguin USA, 1997) that daydreaming can provide comfort and relaxation, enhance self-esteem, act as a new tool for creativity, or point the way toward the resolution of a nagging problem.
We knew that. Which is why we offer this issue as a means of escape. See you in September, relaxed, refreshed and ready to plan our next adventure.