Treadmilling through Life: Where Are You Going?

When do you feel the most alive and plugged in?  When the rhythm of life is slower and you are able to connect with the people and world around you?  Or when the pace of life is faster and you are able to handle multiple projects and deadlines at the same time?  What attracts and keeps your attention?

Recently, I was working with employees at a local non-profit.  The opening activity was a ball toss:  employees were standing in a large circle, calling out the name of an individual across the circle, getting the person's attention, confirming that the person was ready to catch the ball... and then tossing the ball.  Through various stages of this exercise, people practiced how to consciously throw and catch the ball.  Eventually, four balls were sailing through the air at any one time!

Ideas Flying in All Directions
(Photo Credit:  Flying Paper, Shutterstock)

As we debriefed the exercise, I heard comments I was not expecting.  Some people said they were bored and weren't paying attention until there were four balls in motion.  Relating to their work responsibilities, they explained that they stay focused only when a project is complex and challenging.

That raised several questions for me:

• When do I -- and others -- feel most connected with others?
• Is our fast-paced world dictating how to keep up and engage?
• What might we be missing when we are bored with a Life Pace that is contrary to our preferred Way of Being?

Racing to Keep Up
(Photo Credit:  A Foodie Stays Fit)

Becoming accustomed to a pace that balances or blends individual preferences with stimuli from diverse Ways of Becoming seems to be a rarity in our world.  Can I slow down when you need me to be present?  Can I quicken my pace when you need me to be where you are?

Noticing the Rarity of Diverse Ideas
(Photo Credit:  Wollongong Students' Friendship, Illawarra Mercury)

I am beginning to realize that the pace of life isn't necessarily about moving toward a goal or a destination.  Instead, the experience and wisdom of the Journey -- no matter how fast or slow -- allows us to travel through diverse landscapes and find pleasure with our companions.  Shared ideas -- explored through dialogue and reasoned conclusions, invite us to Roads Untraveled.

One final thought:  during the journey or at its end, can we admit that we are pleased to have "friends like you"?

May this week invite moments to slow down and speed up -- when friends seek our presence... no matter how we are and who we are becoming.


 

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

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