-
In-Between Days
There are times when our days feel like they are all the same. Moments move past our consciousness without leaving an impression, one blending deftly into the next. They pale in comparison to the glamour of birthdays, death days, or the days a truth is revealed and changes you forever. Yet it is the in-between days that bind our lives together like a humble cement. It is on these days that we are afforded the time to practice, rest, and wait. We practice new skills, test our theories, and hone our existing talents. In-between days are made for rough drafts, sloppy copies, and trial runs. They give us time to rest. A moment to catch our breath…relax, exhale, and sit back. Resting…
-
Sunday Sunday
Early last Sunday morning, I was running past a friend’s house in the pre-dawn quiet. Her Jeep was parked outside. I knew she was sleeping. Sunday is her only day off of work. It is the day she rests. In spite of the fact that “resting on the seventh day” is often referenced, the idea of resting at all has become counterculture in our world. Many stores operate 24/7. Businesses expect their employees to be available 24/7. And certainly, the internet knows no limits on its productive time. It would seem that we have “evolved” beyond a six-day work week. But…is it wise? Research tells us that taking a rest from exercise at regular intervals actually…
-
Fast. Slow. Colorful.
Time is an abstraction of eternity. A glimpse, for mortals, of what could be if we spend ours wisely in life. — Dean Cavanaugh The more desperately we want something to occur, the longer it seems to take. Time expands with our desire. We count the minutes waiting for the phone to ring, the storm to pass, or the plane to land. As though by clock watching, we can accelerate ourselves through uncomfortableness. Ironically, we often experience the opposite sensation. The more we focus on that we wish to avoid, the more present we are to it. Like the proverbial rough tooth that draws the tongue, the obsessive thought grows and eclipses the…
-
Short Cuts
“Genius is one percent inspiration and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas A. Edison Both humble and profound, Edison’s quote contains a daunting universal truth about what it takes for a person to be remarkable. There are no short cuts to greatness. The poet or musician first internalizes the rules of their craft in order to artfully break them. Professional athletes work tirelessly to build the endurance and muscle memory that allow them to perform effortlessly under extreme conditions. Scientists painstakingly repeat experiments to prove their hypotheses. Yet in the face of countless examples, there appears a corollary to Edison’s truth…or maybe it’s just human nature. We look for short cuts. Why? For one thing, sometimes it works. Sort of. That’s why there are…
-
Choosers
Turkey and football on Thursday, early bird sales on Friday, supporting small businesses on Saturday. This is a weekend that is full of shared experiences. Or is it? Are the activities described universal? Or are they simply an easy way to categorize how some people choose to spend their time on Thanksgiving weekend? A tradition denotes an experience that is repeated. Oftentimes the implication is that the experience is also shared by many. However, in a world with billions of people and thousands of cultures, projecting a one-size-fits-most tradition is arguably absurd. Looking at the other 360 odd days of the year, traditions don’t exist only on holidays. Our daily lives are filled rituals. With their frequency, they become invisible–like the water in…
