Time Will Flee. We Don't Need To!



Mornings are usually rushed, what with the kid's school, husband's office, tiffin and everything clashing all at once. I wake up by 5 and before I know it, it's 8.30 already, the kid has left for school and husband has left for office. Time literally flees!

I have been following a particular routine every morning. I usually prepare tea for the household while sweeping the house. I know this sounds weird, but I boil the water and milk at very low temperature so that the tea soaks in some more flavour from the tea powder. By the time the tea is prepared, I am usually done with the sweeping. Then I mop the house, gulp down the lukewarm tea, rush to take bath and start preparing breakfast. 

Since few days, I had been feeling a bit disgruntled on waking up. The prospect of all the tasks looming ahead started overwhelming me. Actually, the sense of disgruntlement started descending right from the night, just before I went to sleep. 

I pondered on this for some time. It wasn't as if I was doing anything new, I was just following a comfortable routine. Then why the sudden sense of boredom and exhaustion!? One morning, I decided to do a new thing. Once I swept the house and the tea was done, I deliberately took some time off to sit with the tea and drink it leisurely. I sat in front of the TV where some devotional songs were playing and I took my own time savoring the few yet blissful minutes of not doing anything and simply enjoying tea. I have to say, this little ritual made a big difference to my morning.

When you look at it, it seems very insignificant. What is so great about taking time off to drink some tea, you may think. But this gesture shows the day that it is not controlling me, but I am in control of the day. The simple ritual of deliberately taking time off when there are many tasks, sends out a strong message to the consciousness that we are in control and won't be rushed for anything. The tea-break lasts all for five minutes, but those five minutes refresh and invigorate me to a great extent. Once I have had this break, I get started on the other tasks with renewed vigor.

My mother would often chide me to sit down while taking tea/coffee and I would say that there is no time. But there is! Time is always there. The real question is, are we with Time? Or are we trying to race against it? In the race, we often find ourselves rushing through the day and wrongly assuming that we beat Time, or we find ourselves lagging terribly behind, exhausted and tired. 

I have done this a lot, trying to race against Time. But you know what, it feels like it is catching up with me now! No more race, or rush, or run. Just leisure - that is my new Mantra. Whatever I do, I will do it with leisure. Why the hurry?? I once saw a video where the chef was trying to prepare some meals in ten minutes. Ten minutes!? My tea takes longer time to prepare! Isn't cooking a process to be enjoyed and to be learnt from? For me, cooking is something immensely relaxing. I plan in advance, arrange for all the required ingredients and cook leisurely, listening to some podcasts or audiobooks. It is a process that I find calming and soothing. Rushing through this process is just impossible for me! It will only lead to disaster in the kitchen. 

There are so many things we rush through. Before we realize, we find time and life too have rushed by and we didn't even pay any attention! Life was not meant to be lived in a hurry. It is not an imposition or a punishment that we need to get through as soon as possible. Life is meant to be lived every moment leisurely and calmly. Hurrying and rushing will only tire our spirits. We deserve better! We deserve calm, peace, soothing and leisurely moments wherein we can repose in our selves and do nothing but enjoy the pleasure of the given moment. 

We deserve to live in leisure, to enjoy every task and not to simply rush through it. Take it from me, friends, that you all deserve peaceful and unhurried moments every day. No matter how many tasks loom before you, remember to seize control of the day and to not to let it run you amok. Deliberately seek moments of nothingness and solitude so that your spirit can rest and renew itself. A calm and peaceful mind is the best aid you can hope for to deal with the days of your life!

Time will undoubtedly flee. Fortunately for us, we don't need to.

Comments

  1. Latha PrakashFebruary 28, 2024 at 6:19 AM

    Beautifully put. A thoughtful and need of the hour post. Somethings as little as enjoying the tea in peace makes the difference. Loved reading

    ReplyDelete

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