Living Life on the Highway or on the Road Less Traveled?

Since I started back to work I've really noticed how little patience society has now for waiting. I'm not talking about in a long line for ten or more minutes but a matter of 10 to 20 seconds. Yes, you read that right, I said seconds. I've seen people change lines with just one person in front of them, nearly run into people in the process, even just miss a fender bender with their cars, all to save themselves 10 seconds waiting behind someone else. Have our lives become so fast paced that we can't slow down at all? Take a breath, look around you, say hello to the person in line behind you.

Depending on the circumstances, I'm as guilty as anyone else, mostly due to running late. Technology has made this even worse. Looking at the weather online and one last check of email, leads to Facebook, then to Instagram and then -- oh no! Now I'm late! I hurry around trying to get everything done and wind up stressed out, irritated, and impatient. This morning I decided to be mindful of the time I had and how much time things took to do. I still had my usual coffee and crossword puzzles (I do two a day, USA Today and The Washington Post) but by being aware and changing the order I normally did things I was able to get the dog out for a leisurely walk and do the dishes, as well as make and eat breakfast and pack a lunch. All this and I was out the door and at work on time. Win!

In another ironic twist, I've taken time each day to let my mind relax, to sit outside on the carport with the pets and enjoy this beautiful weather, and have then gotten more things done afterward. I used to try to focus to get things done first, but then wound up in avoidance behavior on the computer with the result that nothing got done and I was tense and angry with myself. Jim Rohn, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, once said that the more success you have, the more time you'll have. That struck me as paradoxical but it is proving true in my life. Another thing he said that rings dramatically true is that "failure is not a cataclysmic event." Failure is a group of small failings that build up throughout the day. I've been experiencing that for a very long time now and I wind up feeling angry at myself and the life I'm leading, when it's all down to my own behavior to change it and make it better. So here's to finally applying this belief to my life and reaping the benefits.