And yet, being directly behind that truck as it maneuvered, I found myself thinking of how frequently I rush and hurry to no useful end. I wondered: What drives me to act this way? Short of a life and death emergency, what is the point of ever being in a rush? How much would I reduce my stress by slowing way down? What gets in the way of me more often acting as deliberately and purposefully as that truck driver did while making his turn? How much has hurrying ever enhanced my effectiveness? How much does rushing contribute to a tendency to quickly lose my patience?
Will these reflections - all connected to observing that truck - stop me from mindlessly hurrying the next time? Probably not. But perhaps these wonderings will bubble up at some point in the future when I'm impatiently rushing for no reason. Good enough.
This is true. Makes me think of David Foster Wallace's "What is Water?" commencement address. He talks about all the impatience exhibited on the road, or on line at the store...how at its root it is often(not always) self-centeredness. How those moments can be taken back, and made into something else, something not so fraught.
ReplyDeleteRegina; Thanks for the comment. I LOVE that DFW piece and if my meager musings brought his brilliance into your mind - no matter how temporarily - I am seriously stoked. You made my day.
DeleteI love this observation. I have had some similar ones since I retired. During my younger years and work life, I always seem to want to do things fast. Now that I am retired, I occasionally stop and realize not only that I don't need to rush, that it isn't really effective.
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks for the comment and positive feedback. Although I've also found it easier in my post-full work life to pause more and rush less, I've still got a LONG way to go.
DeleteHey Pat. Not sure I would classify this as 'rushing' but I always very conscious (too conscious?) of not being late to anywhere I need to go. In fact, I take that to extremes at times by planning to leave so much in advance that I arrive early (very early). This is in contrast to my lovely wife who, although had very much gotten better at leaving on time, was not as concerned with this as I was/am. I do admit that there are times when my actions can be toned down. But if we have a train to catch, or a make a theater curtain or movie start time, then rushing might be in order if enough time was not allowed for in advance. And I also allow for extra time for possible traffic and other delays. For me, I'd rather be 20-30 minutes early than 4-5 minutes late. Or even 1 minute late. But, as I said, I try to plan accordingly for this so I don't have to rush. Sometimes it works. Thankfully more than often than it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Bob; Thanks for all your comments today. I share your propensity for wanting to be on time (or a little early) but in this post, I was referring less to that useful and respectful habit than I was to mindless rushing & hurrying when I don't have a specific place to be. Been working on it ever since watching that truck make that turn.
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