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One thing that really helped me - and the lummox gene was always apparent in me, plus I'm 6'8 and old - is using, and I dunno if there's a US equivalent, but a "bounce-back", which is a cricket training thing, basically a sprung net that you throw the ball into and catch the rebounds. It helps develop reflexes, and best of all, switches off large chunks of your brain as you use it, cos it requires a lot of concentration if you don't want a cricket ball (similar to a field hockey ball) to the eye or mouth or through a window. Doing it daily, it forces you to react, move and respond in ways you wouldn't normally, and if you go for it, can be a decent bit of exercise. Sadly, my kids' trampoline now stands in our trampoline-size garden, so I haven't been doing it for a few years, but it felt great, and was a great way to switch off.

This kind of thing:



Any bouncy, heavy-ish ball, a wall and a surface you don't mind diving or falling on will do it. My gut feeling is a tennis ball is a bit too light.

enframed wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:02 am

dontfeartheringo wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:12 pm Tired of running into door frames when I'm tired. Tired of bashing my head against cabinet doors and van roofs. Tired of dropping things.

Regarding all of the above: figuratively or literally?

Not to speak for OP, but, based on our conversations, and similarities I imagine he means LITERALLY and FIGURATIVELY. I've had an awkward clumsiness pretty much my whole life. Random bleeding knuckles, bruises, and scrapes have always been reality. Slowing down helps with the randomness, but only so much. This goes back to before brain tumours, and surgeries. "Slowing down" can sometimes just make it more pronounced.

I'm just trying to accept it.

Dudley wrote: I dunno if there's a US equivalent, but a "bounce-back"

We have those sure, I think they are called "bouncey-nettty thing."

This is a good idea. Interestingly and possibly related, I start playing "Tennis" by myself against racquetball courts at a local park. I feel like I am better organized since doing that.

PASTA wrote: Not to speak for OP, but, based on our conversations, and similarities I imagine he means LITERALLY and FIGURATIVELY. I've had an awkward clumsiness pretty much my whole life. Random bleeding knuckles, bruises, and scrapes have always been reality. Slowing down helps with the randomness, but only so much. This goes back to before brain tumours, and surgeries. "Slowing down" can sometimes just make it more pronounced.

Nice use of the non-US spelling of tumour.

Do you cut/hurt yourself often in kitchens, or is that one place this clumsiness does not afflict you?

I figured he meant both, was trynna be funny.

As Dave N wrote, getting stuck in your own head can definitely lead to clumsiness due to just being unaware of what's happening around you. I've not only had it happen to me, I've see it happen to people I love.

The Discipline of Do Easy, by William S. Burroughs:
- essay
- Gus Van Sant's student film about it, believe it or not

Mostly a thought experiment or whatever. But it's actionable for fleeting moments, whenever you remember it.

Interesting that several people mentioned having scattered attention in other circumstances, that definitely makes sense.

kokorodoko wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:35 am Interesting that several people mentioned having scattered attention in other circumstances, that definitely makes sense.

When people I love open their car doors and allow them to knock into other people's cars, simply from not paying attention, I had to speak up, ya know. "Wake the fuck up! Look at your surroundings." I mean sure Lambo owner is probably a douche, but it's a fucking Lambo. Respect the Lambo.

enframed wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:20 am

Nice use of the non-US spelling of tumour.

Do you cut/hurt yourself often in kitchens, or is that one place this clumsiness does not afflict you?

I figured he meant both, was trynna be funny.

As Dave N wrote, getting stuck in your own head can definitely lead to clumsiness due to just being unaware of what's happening around you. I've not only had it happen to me, I've see it happen to people I love.

I was raised by a Brit, so some of my spelling leans that direction. as does how I "draw" certain numbers.
As far as kitchens? yes and no. RARELY with a knife or on a slicer. But cracking a knuckle open on a metro shelf? all the time. I AM tall and gangly so can lose track of my hands or feet.

enframed wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:47 am When people I love open their car doors and allow them to knock into other people's cars, simply from not paying attention, I had to speak up, ya know. "Wake the fuck up! Look at your surroundings."

As Paul Simon so memorably put it, one man's door is another man's door.

I constantly remind myself that "I am only doing THIS right now." I am really trying to break myself of multi-tasking and being in a hurry for no reason. Multi-tasking is such bullshit. I spent decades of my life doing heaps of B- things, and never really doing a single thing A+.

Mason wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:33 am The Discipline of Do Easy, by William S. Burroughs:
- essay
- Gus Van Sant's student film about it, believe it or not

Mostly a thought experiment or whatever. But it's actionable for fleeting moments, whenever you remember it.

This is great.