This first Saturday of 21 days in #DisruptTheGap revealed time. Minutes and hours pass so rapidly. Do you experience time passing more rapidly?
True confession: I lose track of time, and I don’t accurately calculate how long something will take me. I often become completely absorbed in what I’m doing, and time ceases to exist. I’m a strong P on Myers-Briggs (do you know your type?) and I’ve learned this can create issues in relationships. This very well may be a gap I need to disrupt, except right now, I’m simply noticing and attentive. Simultaneously, I’m very organized about my meetings and commitments, and love a sense of order in my calendar, so I know where I have flexibility and spontaneity. My current work can be 24/7, it’s most definitely not 8:00 to 5:00 (I’ve never fit that mold although I’ve tried) and I value my time at home to write and putter, so that is partially why many projects in my 21 day habit disrupt aren’t accomplished.
For decades I’ve asked myself and others, where is the best yes and no and, once that is determined, is it necessary?
I had Saturday plotted, based on weather and changing seasons, and this disrupt and clearing project. Except, today, I discovered the greatest good was becoming present to the unexpected, and being spontaneous.
photo: day 3 disrupt the gap
March 15, 2018, Papohaku Beach, Molokai
A full day of play and solitude on the longest white sand beach in the Hawaiian Islands, all to myself. No responsibility, no time commitment to anyone or anything. Pure bliss, and everywhere I looked, heart rocks. Tonight, reflecting on my day and what it revealed, this day and image came to awareness to share.
This October morning I slept in, lit a fire in the woodstove, and wrote. Then invited my Dad to attend a piano concert in town for a date night. I learned a professional certification program I’m enrolled in that was to start in October is bumped to January, and experienced irritation. (Although I know it will be better, I was initially annoyed, so I chose to be present to the emotions that erupted and the insight that emerged.) I opened a journal from Seth Godin to write about and track a creative idea, and read this: “You don’t need more time. You simply need to decide.” Midday, after covering the Mind aMazes school district story, I literally bumped into a young woman in town, and chose to be present to her. Time is a gift we can give to ourselves, and each other. And fully showing up—being present where we are.
In her encore tonight, the internationally acclaimed pianist, Teresa Walters, introduced her original compilation, quoting from Galileo, Shakespeare, Einstein, Gandhi, and Jane Goodall—each a world shaper and thinker whose heart and commitment to vision and disrupting the gap, changed time.
- What is your relationship with time?
- Do you wear a watch, or use a planner of some sort?
- How often do you unplug?
- How does heart, care, and kindness erupt in the minutes and hours of the only life you have to live?
- Do you value how your time is invested, are there shadows and areas to #disrupt by where and how your attention is given?
The Labrador is nudging my side, inviting me to play. It’s time.
#BePresent
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I don’t unplug often enough. Somehow the FOMO took over. Recently I pulled away from social media and actually have missed out on some fun events because I was unplugged. I am liking the idea of JOMO and the reasons maybe why! The feeling of needing more relationships to fill fulfilled instead of focusing on the quality of my relationships has been a problem, a rock in my path to joy. Also allowing the brain a min to be bored and dream about those things a desire has been so good.
As we age I feel time moving at a quick pace, I don’t want to waste those mins doing things that do not breath life into me. Thanks again for the reflection time
These are wonderful insights Kim, and I am right there with you on the unplug. I’m grateful for your reflection time!