Where is your favorite place? Today I am practicing the pause in my favorite office. My kids are playing. It’s raining ever so slightly, but we don’t care.
The journey of the last several weeks has been both weird and wonderful. It’s glorious and good. But it’s also been a little overwhelming at times.
Just like a lot of people, I thought I had it all figured out. But what’s left of all the spinning plates when the rug gets jerked out from under you?
I know you know what it feels like. I know you understand the moments of confusion. Even though none of us truly understand it. We’re each working it out in our own way.
Here’s what I have learned: this new normal is way better. That’s right. This slow life away from the crazy and the crowds and the twin Masters Efficiency and Expectation is superior in every way that actually matters. Not because there aren’t terrible things happening. Not because there aren’t some real consequences or pain. We aren’t immune or callous to any of that. But this slower life, I’m convinced, is a better life.
If we’re not careful we’ll see the old normal through rose colored glasses. We’ll convince ourselves it was better and rush back to it.
We can’t afford to. Even if right now it might feel like we literally can’t afford not to. What’s at stake is bigger than your bank statement. It’s your soul.
So as talk of life “getting back to normal” dominates the conversation you need to ask yourself if that’s really what you want. Because you get to vote for the life you want.
I don’t think I have it all figured out. I’ve spent so much time over the last six weeks REALLY being honest about where I’m lacking. I’ve also spent more time with my favorite stories lately than ever before in my life. What made them great? What can I learn? I’ve certainly come to agree with Jim Mattis. “There are a lot of old solutions to new problems.”
Here’s what I’ve been reminded of that I didn’t do enough six weeks ago: STOP. OBSERVE. CELEBRATE. Stop and just pause. Observe what’s good in your life. Celebrate it like it will be gone tomorrow. It might.
How can we afford not to do this? We can’t. Especially when Efficiency and Expectation are readying to rear their ugly heads again.
If we don’t stop, observe, and celebrate what we’ve learned we will lose it all. Or we will realize what we had way too late. I think that would be the biggest tragedy of all.
So what are you going to do? Rush back to your Masters? Efficiency and Expectation will be waiting. Even now they are getting ready to strike.
See this crazy moment in history for its potential, not just its harm. An act of fate itself bent on saving you from what you don’t really want to go back to anyways. Do you feel the tension inside when you compare the two?
Efficiency and Expectation can rule you at the speed of life until it all slips by. Or the pace can change. For the better. Forever. Let your life change. Let it slow down. Forever.
Stop. Observe. Celebrate. Practice the pause.