So the other day, actually it was Saturday morning, I went to change my tires, computer and smartphone in hand to "do" necessary work at 6:39 am at the local shop that does a great job for us.
computer and smartphone in hand to "do" necessary work at 6:39 am
The plan was to walk over to Tim's, get breakfast and work for a couple of hours.
I am more zombie like at that hour of the morning but good intentions said, you must get yourself together and get things done.
About 15 minutes in, I realized that the very last thing I wanted to do or needed to do was work at 7am on things that while having some importance, were not going to make or break my day, month or year.
About 15 minutes in, I realized that the very last thing I wanted to do or needed to do was work at 7am on things that while having some importance, were not going to make or break my day, month or year.
As much as I was tired, I didn’t feel like logging on to the web and get going with “some” things to do.
I felt as though I just needed to connect with people. So that's what I did.
Talked to the guys changing my tires and found out some interesting things about their life. Found out a few things about tie rods and wheel alignments that I never knew before.
Talked with the owner, a friend from high school and exchanged war stories from hockey and old injuries.
The assistant manager's comments got me thinking.
The assistant manager's comments got me thinking.
We've been put on the wheel so much so that some people won't come to garage to wait an hour because they believe they don't have the time to wait so now, one of the new “all the rage” is mobile tire change guys. They'll come to your work, home, anywhere to change your tires.
While that's not a bad thing, it just seems that like microwave food, we're being programmed to be on the wheel whether we want to or not and the thought process is that we don't have enough time to cram “it” all in.
the thought process is that we don't have enough time to cram “it” all in.
What suffers is relationships or connections. Do you ever notice that sometimes when we ask or are asked how you are doing, the person sometimes doesn’t even wait for the response?
So after a while, the go to word is “Good” even if it isn’t but really, why say anything else when you know or feel the person while maybe having good intentions is not prepared to hear anything else because if well, the answer is somewhat negative, a mixed bag, they really don’t want to know.
With a lot of what I do, the pace is pretty frenetic especially during the week but every Wednesday afternoon, I will be in an art class with students. I am not Picasso, or any kind of artist but after 2 afternoons in, I am realizing how beneficial it is becoming to spend quiet time connecting with students but more importantly, stopping or rather slowing down for 2 hours and pacing myself. I think it matters when it comes to connecting with people.
Interestingly enough, I had a very amusing, comical conversation with an employee at Chapters last week.
What she said was striking; “I will remember this conversation for a while because it was interesting”…
What she said was striking; “I will remember this conversation for a while because it was interesting”…
No tip of the hat to anyone, just decided that maybe this young adult needed a pick me up and she certainly got that and more. To share a moment of levity, a laugh or smile can do wonders.
Is it any wonder that Proverbs record that “A Cheerfeul heart is good medicine”.
I realize that sometimes, our society wants us to stay in our lane and just be kind of robotic but we were made for connection.
Funny thing is, we do have more time than we think and while it was only tires, it was good to connect with people and just relax a little bit. My computer and phone will be waiting for me but those conversations may not ever come my way again.
I can remember 2 or 3 times over the past 5 years at the same establishment, waiting in line to get my tires done early morning and someone in the line decided to go to Tim’s and buy the big jug of coffee and share with the first 10-15 customers waiting in line. Once it was donuts but you get the point.
Amazing that people who didn’t know each other began to talk because someone decided to slow the pace of life down, show a kindness and warmed the hearts of strangers to chat and talk. Were the conversations earth shattering? I think not but people connected for a few minutes which they may not have otherwise...
Amazing that people who didn’t know each other began to talk because someone decided to slow the pace of life down, show a kindness and warmed the hearts of strangers to chat and talk.
I know it felt good to just relax. Slow the pace down; there's beauty in it! Want do you think?
Dave
#ForwardFridays #slowdown #personaltouch #love #motivation #life #inspire #hope #inspiration #strength #believe #goals #happiness #connections #purpose #mindset #smile #confidence #selflove
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