Distracting thoughts.

 …As long as such external distractions exist, the ordinary mind’s thoughts will orbit around them. The herd wonders when the bus will come, where the store is, whether their clothes look appealing, or what to eat for dinner. They concern themselves with the latest fashion trends, the next meal, or the breaking news of some random conflict unfolding on the opposite side of the world. These are not profound contemplations; they are synthetic distractions crafted by a world designed to keep minds perpetually occupied, tethered to the mundane.