Letting the wheel decide for us

There’s a certain kind of tired that comes from waiting. You know the one—when everyone is looking at each other, and the silence stretches just a little too long. It’s not about the task itself, but the mental energy of figuring out who goes where.

That moment before anyone speaks

I’ve been in that circle more times than I can count. Someone will suggest a method, and then we’ll spend five minutes debating if it’s fair. All the while, I’m just standing there, hoping someone else will take the lead and make the call.It’s easier to just let the decision happen to you sometimes. You don’t have to justify your choice or worry about leaving someone out. The responsibility just… floats away.

When the list appears

You see the names pop up, and there’s a quiet relief. It’s done. There’s no more back-and-forth, no more subtle negotiations. The groups are just there, a fact of the room.It feels like a small gift, not having to think. You can finally move on to the actual work, or the game, or whatever comes next. The mental space it frees up is surprisingly large.

A different kind of quiet

The chatter usually starts again, but it’s different. It’s about the project now, not about the process of getting started.