When I began this blog, a very smart woman (my sister the PhD) told me that I should post at the same time each week to create flow, a habit, and dedicated quiet time to get some thoughts out. Those of you that played music with me in my younger days know that I made TIME a huge focus of my drumming, because without that, what’s the point of anchoring the band? (Hold the TIME jokes…I know that it’s not just a magazine). Well, life gets busy for all of us and one day slips to the next and here we are.
It got me thinking that time is measured differently by different people in different situations. More than that, time between people living in the same house may not be as in sync as one might think. (Hey, that’s a quality song lyric no?) Here’s what I mean
YOU have made time to read this right now. Perhaps you are in a quiet place and you “have a minute” or you are taking care of a bodily function that requires you to be seated. Hey, I’m sure you’ve thought about me in worse places than the loo. Anyway, think about yourself…are you a “I’m always on time” person? Will you be late for your own funeral? Perhaps you fall in the middle: going somewhere fun? ON TIME! Not so much? (doctor, dentist, job) MAYBE A FEW MINUTES LATE. Let’s also talk about the meaning of “A FEW MINUTES.” You still have a minute don’t you? You’re still reading aren’t you? Just keep swimming…
What does A FEW MINUTES MEAN if you are:
Working?
Taking a nap?
4 years old?
90 years old?
Waiting for a job interview?
On your death bed?
Checking the winning lottery numbers?
After the 2 minute warning in the 4th quarter of a football game?
Listening to a piece of music?
Playing a piece of music?
Running?
About to lose your job?
Being prepped for surgery?
Feeling the sunrise on your face?
Driving?
Flying?
Waiting for a train in Ukraine?
Praying?
Sitting in a meeting at work?
Checking your phone?
Wondering when this list will end?
Watching the ocean?
It goes on forever, the list, the concept of “A FEW MINUTES” changes with alarming clarity when you stop and think about it for….well….a few minutes.
Hang on, there is a point coming. Never mind how we measure time. As you read that list, you had a feeling with each event. Some feelings were pleasant, some dark, some you connect with, some that are foreign to you. How we live the moment makes the moment. Outside forces are always at work on us from the environment and at the same time, we are limited by our skewed vision of our worldview. Add the fact that our internal voices are constantly talking at us and you have “A FEW MINUTES” combined with emotion, environmental surroundings and tick, tick, tick all together. Take into consideration this point as well: When you read the list, were you alone in these places or were other people there? That changes the equation as well. Changes your feelings. Changes how you choose to remember the time.
As I write this, last week was school vacation. I’m not one for filling my moment with nothing, and so one of my annoying little habits is asking my wife: “What do we need to get done today? What’s our agenda? What do we HAVE TIME FOR?” She rattles off a list big and small and I’m listening. The kids are at the kitchen table having dinner and I am repeating some items to them: “Hey guys, this week mommy said we’re going to try skiing, maybe hit a museum, go to the movies, and get haircuts….you boys both really need haircuts.” Teddy, age 5 looks at me, waves his hand and calmly states: “Daddy, nobody likes Milk Duds. No one. I tried one at school on Halloween and it was literally terrible. No one likes them.
Yes, we all measure time and feelings differently. I’m on an agenda….Teddy is on Milk Duds. I’ll close with a joke from George Carlin, who in my view, was a comedic genius….
Let’s talk about license plate mottos. Boy is our country all over the place. In Idaho it says “Famous Potatoes”, while in New Hampshire it says “Live Free or DIE.” Somewhere in between the truth lies. Probably a little closer to famous potatoes. Haircuts or Milk Duds? Let me think about that for a few minutes.
Patrick moeschen 