Slowly slowly

It is funny sometimes when something happens in life, or for me when I heard an expression, and the first time round you may not even take any notice. Nothing really stands out, it is just an ordinary every day moment. But then when the same thing is repeated, you may notice, raise an eyebrow, and even say to someone, “wow this is a little familiar”. But when the 3^rd time comes around, you start to wonder if there is some message or lesson that God or the universe is sending you, and you had better stand up and take notice. For me it has been the expression, slowly slowly.

You may remember back in Rishikesh, the beloved gardener who seemed to really “get” life with his sparkle in his eye and his cheeky smile. He used to teach us asana at the ashram and one of the few English phrases he used was “slowly, slowly”. At the time, I thought it was a great mantra in life but pretty much dismissed it. It wasn’t until I was in the heart of the Himalaya’s and the guide each day would start with “slowly, slowly” that my ears pricked up and I thought to myself, “now that is something I have heard before”. And it really IS a good mantra for trekking in the mountains. But it wasn’t until a very close friend said to me in response to my sad farewell, “slowly, slowly” (meaning patience, we will see each other again) that I said to myself, “Ok universe, I am listening”.

I am someone who usually operates at a pace that I would describe as maximising efficiencies, and others could describe as tiresome.  In my previous life I was very good at filling every minute of the day from 5.30am til 10pm. I am doer, an active person who has a level of determination and also discipline to achieve. With this level of doing and efficiency also comes a level of impatience. I am often well organised (handy trait to have) and always on time (also handy sometimes, in particular when in Europe and catching a train) but it can prove frustrating for me when things don’t go to plan (try catching a bus in Guatemala where maybe today, maybe manana). So like all qualities, it has it’s ups and downs.  At the moment though, it is perhaps the first time all trip I don’t have a real plan, and I am finding I becoming impatient and what to know NOW....what should I do, what can I do, should I meet up with this person, should I go back, should I go somewhere new.....I get impatient and want to rush things and find answers and “know” what the “right” thing is. (Whatever that means anyway, who the hell knows, I have decided there is no right and wrong just different). So I am trying, note the word trying, to heed the advice of the gardener, my guide and my dear friend and go slowly slowly. There is no need to know right now what I am doing next month, crazy and a little bit scary, but I need to practice patience. For this control freak busy bee, that is tough, but hey, what is life about if you can’t practice some of the tough stuff. So whilst I resist the urge to take out my calendar and start mapping out my next few months, I am going to take one day at a time, and enjoy the lakeside view of Pokhara in Nepal, and go slowly slowly.

Not really a direct connection to patience, but a nice bill posted in NYC as part of the "Wall Street Out" demonstrations