Troy P Zehnder

Have you ever had someone pop into your mind for no apparent reason? Maybe you’re halfway through your morning coffee, trying to remember if you replied to that email from three weeks ago, when suddenly—BAM!—your third-grade art teacher’s face is in your head. Why? Did Mrs. Berkowitz somehow tap into the cosmic neural network to remind you of the macaroni portrait you made of your dog?

Or maybe it’s more meaningful. Like a friend you haven’t spoken to in months, a family member you meant to check in on, or that cute barista who smiled at you a little too warmly last Thursday. Whoever it is, the brain’s timing is always impeccable… and by “impeccable,” I mean totally random.

Midday Mind Intrusions

Let’s talk about those mid-day thought ambushes. You’re in a meeting (or pretending to listen while scrolling Instagram), and BOOM, you’re thinking about someone you haven’t seen in ages. Maybe it’s an old friend who always cracked you up, or maybe it’s that person you ghosted after two awkward dates. Why are they here? Are you supposed to text them? Is it a sign from the universe, or did your brain just take a detour on Memory Lane? Either way, it’s hard not to spend the next five minutes wondering what they’re up to and whether you should—gasp!—actually reach out.

Bedtime Brain Hijacks

Then there’s the nighttime visitor. You’re finally horizontal after a day that felt like a week, and just as you’re about to drift off, someone’s face emerges like a guest star in the movie of your mind.

Why now? Couldn’t they have shown up when you were scrolling TikTok for two hours instead of waiting until your head hit the pillow? Maybe it’s your subconscious telling you to deal with unresolved feelings. Or maybe your brain is just bored and thought, “You know who we haven’t thought about in a while? That person you sat next to on a flight in 2017 who complimented your book.”

Morning Thought MVPs

But perhaps the most mysterious of all is the First Thought of the Day. Before coffee, before even checking your phone (rare, but it happens), there they are. Floating in your mind like some sort of dream residue you didn’t ask for. Are they special? Is this fate? Or did you just dream about them because you accidentally liked their Facebook post from 2009 and your anxiety is now making them a recurring character in your mental sitcom?

Romantic Interests: A Category of Their Own

Ah, the romantic interest. When they pop into your head, it’s like your brain is suddenly playing a sappy montage. Maybe it’s the way they laughed at your joke that wasn’t even funny, or how their eyes lit up when you mentioned a shared interest. You’re driving to the grocery store, and BOOM, you’re imagining what it would be like to run into them in the cereal aisle. (Spoiler: you’re holding the most embarrassing snack ever.)

Romantic thoughts are equal parts exhilarating and maddening. Are they thinking about you too? Should you send that text, or is it too soon? And why does your brain insist on replaying that one perfect moment between you two like it’s the trailer for a movie you desperately want to watch?

Sometimes, these thoughts inspire you to act. Other times, they’re just a sweet little daydream to carry you through your afternoon. Either way, they’re a reminder that the heart and the mind are often in cahoots, plotting their next move without consulting you first.

What Does It All Mean?

There’s no definitive answer, but it’s probably a mix of nostalgia, unresolved emotions, and your brain being a chaotic little creature that loves playing “Remember This Person?” bingo. Sometimes, it’s worth acting on—sending that text, making that call, or even just taking a moment to think fondly of someone. Other times, it’s okay to let it pass and blame it on your brain’s weird filing system.

So, if I just popped into your head while you were reading this, you should definitely reach out. Unless you’re the third-grade art teacher… in which case, Mrs. Berkowitz, thanks for the macaroni inspiration.

Blessings,

Troy