THE LOSS OF
NATURAL RHYTHM
TICK TOCK, TICK
TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK...
How long did it
take you to read the words above? Did you even bother to read all of them? If
your answer to the second question was “no”, I understand completely….
A new contagion
is sweeping the world. It started in the west and seems to have infected
virtually all parts of the globe. It is what I call “moneyitis” and shows
itself in the equation
Money = Time
I can think of
just two or three places that have not caught this infection; one is where I
currently live, another are the islands off the west coast of Scotland, and
finally some small out-of-the-way places in Africa. We have in common the view
that there is a natural pace to life rather than the imported view expressed in
the equation.
I believe each
of us has to set our personal “life
metronome” at the speed that seems convenient for living (rather than
merely existing). In many “civilised” parts of the globe we are subjected to
the view, the constant reminder, that time is passing, that one must be quick
(or be left behind), and this removes all the “flavour” from being alive. We are not “in touch” with
ourselves any longer, just running faster and faster to be in the same place
and to keep up with others.
Thus, it does
not surprise me if you did not read ALL the words at the start of this post;
it’s an almost natural decision not to, but to go to the ‘meat’ of the post
directly.
My life
metronome is well-established and running at MY speed - not that dictated to me
by externalities; that’s how I like it, that’s how I intend to continue…I don’t
expect others to follow my metronome, but merely to think about how fast/slow
theirs is running…and whether they wish to change it.
Until next time
(and keeping away from infection),
Peripatetic
Scribe
Highly thought-provoking, P.S. I can add another part of the globe that would agree with your viewpoint - South Island here in NZ. There are many similarities between them and the more "remote" areas you mention. A good topic for the classroom, too!
ReplyDeleteMark NZ
Mark thank you. I have never visited South Island (perhaps this is something I can do soon) but from what I read there are indeed remote communities.
ReplyDeleteI hope the blog brings a different perspective to the young(er) generation.
A brilliant post yet again, P.S. I fully agree with your life philosophy. Nevertheless, I would add that I believe that sometimes we are simply not entirely free due to our age and responsibilities (perhaps at times these can be merely good excuses, though). However, we must strive towards our personal metronomes running at our own personal speed, since, if one chooses to neglect it, one might end up as fully estranged from oneself and I do not personally believe this sort of life is worth living at all.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Lucana
Thank you, Lucana. You make a valid point concerning age. I can remember some 30 years ago (maybe more) when I honestly did not consider my internal metronome. It is only with the passing of time (and perhaps shedding some responsibilities) that I have allowed myself to listen to the "inner me".
ReplyDelete