The Sunday NYT reprinted a brief off-the-mike conversation between Barack Obama and David Cameron, another one of those “didn’t realize the mike was live” moments. Though this snippet was actually interesting.
Mr. Obama: I have not. I am going to take a week in August. But I agree with you that somebody, somebody who had worked in the White House who — not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process — said that should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you’re doing is thinking. And the biggest mistake that a lot of these folks make is just feeling as if you have to be …
Mr. Cameron: These guys just chalk your diary up.
Mr. Obama: Right. … In 15 minute increments and …
Mr. Cameron: We call it the dentist waiting room. You have to scrap that because you’ve got to have time.
Mr. Obama: And, well, and you start making mistakes or you lose the big picture.
There is a tendency to fill up our days with as many activities, as many appointments, as many tasks as we can fit, and then even a few more beyond, to the detriment of our minds. I’ve always felt it was extremely important to have time to think, to daydream, to doodle, or to stare vacantly at walls. Bill Clinton (and Barack Obama) seem to agree.