SPACE PHENOMENA
Without space, life is absent from rhythm.
Life is rhythm therefore life is dead without rhythm. Space is integral to life.
Living in the USA is a precious gift for millions of people. The North American continent is incredibly loaded, actually overloaded, with physical resources, that make us the most powerful country in the world.
The American way since our inception is more and more, bigger and biggest, fast and faster, rich and richer!
Motivation, energy, drive, inspired our forefathers to expand; take lands from the native Americans, win two wars against the Brits, take Texas and California from Mexico, and buy Louisiana and Alaska.
7.1 million dollars bought Alaska. At the time they called it Seward’ s Folly. Imagine if Russia still owned Alaska, there would be a two-hour flight to Seattle from Russia! Alaska is the best land buy in our nation’s history.
Yet as valuable as motivation and drive are they have a dark side. This underbelly is called “too busy.”
The most difficult life skill I face teaching is not to get people to try harder, do more, work more hours. No, the enormous challenge for advising givers is to get people to do less and do more of doing less.
There are two ways I know of to do less; to slow the bus down, to create rhythm in your life. You cannot have rhythm without space.
Baseball pitchers understand rhythm and space. The most difficult pitch for me to learn to throw was not the fastball or curveball; it was the soft, off-speed pitch.
The jackhammer works because it has space between the surges.
The hammer drives the nail with rhythmic hits.
Phenomenal music has exceptional rhythm.
Waves have rhythm. The wind has rhythm.
Space creates rhythm. Too busy is a strong indication space is missing from our lives.
Tragically far too many build a snowball in the best years of their lives; hitting their 50’s to 60’s in terrible health.
Too many die way too young because they had little or no space. Their margins were too thin.
They worked too long, too hard
They did not experience silence.
They did not have rhythm.
Two ideas to consider to increase your hope for a better you.
- Observe how often you hear someone say Something like, “I am so busy; I have no time for just me, life is so hectic.”
- Stop. Turn the keys off in your personal life engine. Change your rhythm. Work smart when you work, rest when you rest.
The true story of a man who has given his mind, body, time and even his family for the large school he leads.
These were my words of hope to this remarkable servant.
On the last day of school give your two bosses a sign that says, “Please do not call me during this time period. I will not be available until work begins the first day of school.”
My surprise. He did it. Few take this counsel.
Result: Family had two weeks together. They found a wonderful family rhythm. His words, “It was wonderful. Did not know I could do it. Best thing I have done in years!”
