I have random ideas in the shower.
We (probably) all do.
I think it has to do with the ‘flow’ theory as espoused by the late Paul Arden in one of his masterclasses I was fortunate to attend before he went on to meet his ancestors.
A shower idea came to me recently. Right after washing my locs in the shower some days ago. This idea was born out of frustration from my inability to wrap a towel around my head – like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
Excitedly, I rushed to tell my wife about this revolutionary idea. Having had a lot of experience dealing with my spur-of-the-moment brain farts (as I like to call them), she listened with the patience of a saint. She had seen this movie before.
The idea? Towel hats. You wear them once you get out of the shower, so your hair dries without effort. My wife didn’t have to say much. She silently unlocked her phone, did a Google search and showed me the results – towel hats have been in existence since forever, and my novel idea wasn’t quite novel after all.
It was a sobering yet learning moment – the fact that you don’t know about something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I didn’t discover towel hats, just as Mungo Park didn’t discover River Niger.
What was, was already there before we were.
I was grateful to be reminded of that lesson again. What may be new to me may be old to the world. So thread with humility, dear ad person. We do not know all. When in doubt, ask questions. As is always asked in Aba, you may know THIS thing, but do you know THAT thing?
I had another shower moment today. But before I share it, let me first search. My wife might have the patience of a saint, but her endurance is not forever.
#Griot #WeAreGriots #ShowerMoments #ThisIsAfrica #AsInLifeSoInBusiness
Photo credit: Chaz Hutton