Lessons for Living
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How many things can you do at one time?
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Are you the type of
a person who's always in a hurry to get things done? Do you walk and talk fast? Do you
have trouble waiting in line at the supermarket or for an elevator? Once on the elevator
do you immediately push the Close button rather than waiting the few seconds it takes the
door to shut on its own? If so, you might not only be chronically impatient, but you may
suffer from "Hurry Sickness" ... the continuous struggle to accomplish more and
more in less and less time. In the Digital Age, we have come to expect everything to be fast. We want fast computers, fast food, and no waiting at the traffic light. We seek instant communication with email and search for speedy entertainment with the remote control. If you have hurry sickness, you probably also engage in multitasking, which is a fancy word for doing more than one thing at a time. Driving is a good example because when you drive you can also listen to music, play educational audio-tapes, conduct business on the cell phone, eat your lunch, and, maybe, apply your makeup. With hurry sickness we feel entitled to have everything happen immediately with no waiting - - ever - - and when it doesn't go that way, we experience the usual symptoms of tension, anxiety, frustration, and anger. Hurry sickness is making us a society of people living life in states of manic activity and stress overload. Given enough time the demands of hurry sickness will also make us physically and emotionally ill. The cure for hurry sickness is simple. Slow down. The next time you're at the grocery store, look around for the longest checkout line and go stand in it. Take a deep breath and relax. Intentionally choosing to look for opportunities to slow down is practicing patience, and patience is the cure for Hurry Sickness. Also, practice what is called single-mindedness. Putting your full attention on one thing at a time. When you drive, drive. When you eat, eat. And, when you work, work. Stop hurrying; become focused; and you can avoid hurry sickness. Give us your feedback on this article or |
