Hi Friend
I’m sitting out on my back porch this beautiful Saturday morning. I had thought about camping out last night, but it was just so windy here in Oklahoma, I didn’t want to risk a camp fire. You and I know without a campfire there really is no camping. I did ride my bike yesterday at the Bluff Creek Trails and it kicked my butt. I loved it.
My reflections on this week – as almost all my reflections do – lead me to gratitude. I was challenged both personally and professionally and showed up for both. This season of life seems to have a consistent low-grade friction that requires me to keep paying attention to my thoughts, attitude, faith and openness. Running, riding and reading lubricate my soul.
On the trail yesterday I came across a family of deer. Mom, Dad, kid. Dad was off the trail and literally just stared at me. The mom and child were on the trail so I stopped. They didn’t move. I waited. Then waited some more, because it felt like dad would come at me, if I rode any closer to his wife.
I’m not the most patient waiter. Some, on occasion, have accused me of being impatient. I don’t take it as an insult as most the people who say such things appear to do life way too slow. However, this stalled moment was quite enjoyable. Peaceful, even. My immediate instinct is “please get out of the way, so I can keep going.” Within seconds though, I realized I had no where to go and this moment with these deer was unique and beautiful.
Don’t Miss The Moments!
Those who praise the slow approach to life, often offer such a mantra. Of course, I’m like “you’d get more moments, if you pick up the pace.” I’m inclined to believe both perspectives have merit and value. I do like considering time in the framework of moments over minutes, encounters instead of hours, experiences better then weeks and seasons superseding months.
These weekly letters to you, Friend, are my effort to capture and glean from such thinking terminology. I don’t ever recall a specific hour, but I do recall numerous encounters, moments and experiences. We’re not living time, we’re living life. I suspect when I get impatient, I shift from life to time. I love that idea…
Don’t live time, live life!
I love efficiency.
I love fast, attentive service.
I love starting and ending on time.
I love driving fast.
I love people who also appreciate these things.
I’m not sure that’s a poem, but it kind of feels like one to me. Those beliefs don’t conflict with living life vs. time. However, when slow or late people thwart my preference, I certainly am afforded the opportunity to consider differently. Have you been around someone who eats slow? Talks slow? Responds slow because they think thoroughly before speaking? Writes slow? Decides slow? Walks slow? It’s painful. It’s almost like they don’t understand there is more awaiting them.
The Now Moment
People like this act as if they are doing me a service, slowing me down. Granted, it is powerful BEING in the NOW MOMENT. However, if I’ve consumed my food and the conversation is lacking, I’d rather get to ANOTHER MOMENT. What I appreciated about the deer stopping me was they offered me a BEAUTIFUL MOMENT. That’s what’s exhilarating about going slow and exercising patience.
What if it was neither time nor life, but ENCOUNTERING BEAUTY was how we defined our waking moments? That feels most appealing. From nature to human interactions, productivity to original creations, acts of grace, kindness and generosity throughout our day. People spend so much time trying to make themselves look beautiful. What if instead we spent our energies trying to create or spotlight beautiful encounters?
Instigating Ideas…
1. Do you consider yourself patient or impatient? How do others consider you?
2. What was the best moment from your past week?
3. Have you planned next week with some delightful experiences?
4. Encourage someone to hurry up or slow down. Whichever is the opposite of their norm.
One of the things I like about museums is that there are soooooooo many different expressions of beauty, which makes you and I capable candidates for delivering it. Likewise, outdoors or indoors we can receive it as well. The deer on my path were just being themselves, but they gifted me by their presence creating a truly fabulous moment.
Concerning pacing, what if those of us who move a little faster are just zipping through the ugly moments to spend more time in the gorgeous ones? And those of you who go slower, I suspect you have discovered a way to find beauty in the ugly. Good for you.
I would love to hear how you have conversations with those in your life who value a different pace than you and want to assist your speed? Have you discovered any tricks for shifting gears when necessary to go slow or fast? Please Share!