During my music teacher years, one of the musicals my students performed was called “Bebop with Aesop.” We sang about and enacted many of Aesop’s fables, but the story most people recognized was about the tortoise and the hare. The cocky hare challenges the tortoise to a race, but after a spurt of energy, falls asleep. In the end the constant plodding of the tortoise helps it cross the finish line first. Sound familiar?
The pace of our world keeps increasing. We seem to be forced into the harried hare role, racing against the clock and our competitors. We scramble and rush through our days, barely taking time to breathe, let alone notice or enjoy our surroundings. We are burdened with the pressure to do great things and advance our materialistic culture.
Instant gratification is our society’s selling point. We want high- speed internet. Fast food. Instant mashed potatoes. Why spend days reading a book when we can watch the movie version in just over an hour? Drive? I would much rather fly. We get it, use it, and throw it away. It’s no wonder we have a hard time developing patience.
In Aesop’s story, the tortoise is the one who wins the race. He wasn’t fast or flashy. He just had patience. With patience and persistence you can achieve almost anything.
Being a hare for so long has worn me out. I want to try to experience life as a tortoise.
I will still have to meet the demands of life. I can’t ditch my job or toss out my responsibilities as a mom or wife. I still have goals to reach and dreams to fulfill. My phase of life will keep me constantly moving, but I want to go at a more natural pace. I want to be patient with myself and others, enjoying the journey.
Forgive me if I occasionally tell you “no”. I can’t do it all. Feel free to tell me “no” when needed in return. Be patient with me if I don’t complete a non-urgent request the very same day. I will be patient with your time table as well. Everything doesn’t have to be done instantly. If I write a little each day, that book will be completed. If I practice a bit as often as I can, that skill will be learned.
What good are we if we push so hard, we can’t finish the race? I’m giving myself permission to breathe and enjoy. Society can race by if it must, but as for me, there are times when I need to be the tortoise. You are welcome to join me on the (slightly slower) journey.