I recently spent time on a tea farm in southern Assam. It couldn’t correctly be called a tea estate for it had more of the human touch associated with mixed farming (1) than with the raw cotton extraction of a southern antebellum (2) plantation. The pace of life was uncorrupted by a dearth of cell phones, tablets, laptops and the like. Now, I am the first one to admit that I am a romantic at heart. I only see what I see through my experiences and my education. That being said, I couldn’t see the pain that we historically read about (3) in agricultural workers’ eyes: maybe it was there, but safely sequestered away from the few onlookers. I somehow don’t think so. What I saw was a form of ecstasy, a kind of peace. I must say it was very attractive. Like all of us, as I have said before, I am occupied, busy you might say, with the things that I deem important: my family, my students, our DBA project (DBAWageslave.com), and Regal (regalenglish.com), our training company. I spend little time reflecting on the “now,” even though it is the only space that I truly occupy. When I walked amongst the tea bushes, however, I was taken away to a more primitive time, an epoch that had, literally, slowed down.
The Slow Movement (4) wants us to take a few moments to reflect on one fact, one certainty alone: the only gift we truly have is time. “The slow movement is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. Nor is it a Luddite attempt to drag the whole planet back to some pre-industrial utopia. The movement is made up of people who want to live better in a fast-paced, modern world. The slow philosophy can be summed up in a single word: balance. Be fast when it makes sense to be fast, and be slow when slowness is called for. Seek to live at what musicians call the tempo giusto – the right speed.” (5)
I can get my money back, I can get my beauty back — but time is ephemeral — once I spend it, it is gone forever. Tolstoy in Family Happiness (ISBN 9-781-5005-885-95) comments: “I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness. And then, on the top of all that, you for a mate, and children perhaps — what more can the heart of man desire?” There is, of course, more to desire and that is a purposeful life. We all have a mission and we must just uncover it. It is, as Carl Honore points out, senseless to spend life in the pursuit of pointless aims and goals. We must live a real and fulfilled life. This can only be achieved through critical thinking and introspection. The great businessman, philosopher, and inventor, Steve Jobs (1955-2011) leaves us with a thought: Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice — and most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
A closing thought: Time is quite wonderful for it takes on more significance as you age. I do not mean the shortness of time that is left before you. I mean that you now feel like a true connoisseur. You can sense the power of its bouquet when it is placed in your goblet of life. You are posed with devilish questions: shall I savor its bounty in one gulp or should I allow its nectar to slowly trickle down my throat to grasp each delectable droplet? Both ways, in spite of which I choose, will reach the back of my throat — thus my completion, my infinity. The only question is, “Which will be more fulfilling?”
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the importance of reflecting on time, in all its aspects. In this age of the Internet, it is important to seize and control time and truly comprehend its value.
An amusing occurrence: The other day, I returned to where my scooter was parked. I am always very proud of my inventiveness for I leave my helmet on its seat. This helps me identify my “motocha” in a crowd of others. I proceeded to put my helmet on and attempt to put the key into the ignition switch. I experienced some difficulty, but the machine is relatively new, after all. Suddenly a middle-aged woman appeared: she was extremely agitated and her tone was shrill, to say the least. Only then did I realize that my scooter was the one beside hers. Someone had inadvertently placed my helmet on her scooter. She, given the negative nightly newscast, thought that I was just one more foreign criminal trying to steal her new machine: oops!
Just for fun: Verdi: La Traviata
This week, please reflect on the power of time. How do you respond to it?
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: The other day I saw a tiny grasshopper make its way across a field of grass. I felt thankful to be able to catch that moment.
Footnotes:
1) Mixed Farming and Its Advantages
3) Peasant Life and Serfdom under Tsarist Russia
5) Carl Honore: In Praise of Slow (ISBN 9-780-6769-757-34)