I always hear people say that the world moves too fast and how much they wish they could slow things down, stop and smell the roses, yada yada yada.
To me? The world feels like the slowest turtle ever to walk the Earth, plodding along at a pace too slow to be seen with the naked eye.
At least a thousand times a day, I find myself screaming silently at the world around me: “Hurry up already!”
I admit, I’m an irritable person, so it stands to reason that even a slight delay—that slow-loading web page, that always-running-behind lunch buddy—would grind my nerves.
But honestly, who has time for this nonsense?
I go to fill my water bottle and have to wait (yes, I count—blame my OCD, but I count just about everything) 30 whole seconds!
I log on to Twitter to post my daily quote about writing and have to wait an ungodly 10 seconds for the site to load.
I go for my run in the morning and have to wait DECADES while the idiot in the white SUV (who has clearly not had his first coffee of the day) to cruise past before I can cross the road. Hey, buddy, here’s a clue: I shouldn’t be RUNNING faster than you are DRIVING!
Most days, I feel like I’m the only person (or thing) on Earth moving at normal speed and everyone and everything else is in a perpetual state of slow motion. Hell, sometimes it seems more like NO motion.
I’m not entirely impatient, I assure you. I once sat in a bank for almost 5 hours while the incompetent staff attempted to sign me up for a new checking account and I never uttered a word of complaint or, you know, killed anyone.
I just don’t like to waste my time—and losing 30 seconds at the water cooler? That’s a waste of time.
The thing is, the Poland Spring water cooler can’t help itself. It’s been engineered a certain way and can’t physically operate any faster.
But those of you, my friends, who are creeping along the highway at 30 miles an hour in the fast lane (always in the fast lane!) or taking up the whole sidewalk and barely inching forward while I struggle to find a way around you? You DO have a choice.
I have so much to do and time is not my friend. I’m working hard to make this ugly world of ours a better, more beautiful place. And I’m not asking anyone to get off their butts and help. I’m only asking you to be considerate and not slow ME down.
Consider this: Maybe the reason the world seems like it’s moving so fast is because YOU are moving so slowly. Trust me: We’ll all enjoy smelling the roses a lot more after all the work is done, so please step off the path and let me get on with it. You’ll thank me later. ????
