nothing to do with vetch

vetch is blooming in massive heaping mounds along all our roadsides. i love vetch (the flowers and the leaves both make me happy). but rather than waxing poetic about vetch and all the plants in the legume (pea) family, i want to tell you about a book i am reading.

i am reading a book called Stolen Focus by johann hari. it has held me captivated for two days. he does a deep dive into every possible way we could find (through exhaustive research and expert interviews) in order to try and wrap his mind around what has been happening to our collective ability to concentrate and focus. here are all the factors he discusses:

• the cost of constant interruptions (switching) on our cognitive abilities
• reduction in/fragility of our ability to achieve flow states
• lack of sleep (leading to the brains inability to clear toxins and due necessary repairs and meaning making)
• reduction in reading (especially long fiction)
• reduction of mind-wandering (due to time pressures)
• Big Tech–algorithms specifically designed to encourage engagement
• (corporate) movements to lead individuals to believe the problems are personal failings, and not systemic problems
• increased stress putting us into continuous states of “hyper-vigilance”
• poor nutrition (leading to inadequate brain development)
• exposure to toxins (known and yet unknown) in our air and our food proven to reduce cognitive abilities
• reduction in physical and psychological freedom in childhood

if this list is at all interesting to you, i recommend the book. i have two chapters to go. so i am hoping he offers some advice for individuals who feel frustrated and want to take action. even if he doesn’t, the book is worth a read. because we can only effect change when we are informed. and this book is a good place to start.

crownvetch (Securigera varia)