We live in a world that seems to spin ever faster and it is clear that there is no intention of it slowing. So much going on, so many demands on our time, so many choices, so much information, so much noise, so many decisions that need to be made….often right now (or so we, or others, think)!
We live in a world that has become a ‘connected society’. The ever-easier access to information and other people. We have phone, text, email, a whole raft of social media, radio, video, games, music, film, instant sports, news as it breaks and more right at our fingertips. Wherever we are. Things that even only 50 years ago would have seemed so far reaching that it would have been in the realms of science fiction. Now a living reality. In fact much of the science of half a lifetime ago seems so lacking in futuristic ambition as the reality of today far out strides the fiction of yesteryear.
I was on a relatively small plane recently, as you can see from the picture. I am also like most people in that the daily deluge of information and demands means that slowing down, let alone stopping, is unusual. On this occasion, I was flying primarily on business. I did, however, make the effort to extend my trip, if only by a day, and slow down the pace and enjoy some time with people where we could converse uninterrupted.
On the journey a number of things really hit me.
As we know, on takeoff and landing, electronic devices have to be switched off. As the plane was both smaller, with only a few independent passengers, it was quiet. No phones, no chatter, music, no tapping of computer keyboards – just silence (helped by the muffling of sound in a pressurized cabin).
The sun was bright so it was invigorating and felt wonderful to have such strong sunlight with white filigree clouds above and a white puffy cushion of cloud below to look down on with such a clear blue sky. There was nothing but a very distant horizon, much father than our normal eye is used to stretching. Just wonderful.
I recently reread a simple line from Kahlil Gibran that so resonated:
“Great beauty captures me, but a beauty still greater frees me from myself.”
Perhaps it was in those few minutes that I eased back, slowed down, appreciated that I did not need to be ‘connected’ and just stopped.
As I was enjoying the view from the porthole I did notice another plane a distance away travelling in the opposite direction. It is only in these circumstances that one realizes just how fast air travel is. I guess the speed differential was around 1600kph – that made me think about:
- How often are we heading in the same direction as our clients or chasing matters in our daily lives where progress seems slow as we catch them up, or they leave us slowly behind?
- If we are heading in opposite directions this becomes rapidly apparent, just like the other plane, but do we always notice?
- If we are static but others are on the move we can so easily be left behind – are we?
- And importantly in all the rush there is activity – a little like the rocking horse general article I have written elsewhere – so are we making progress, heading in the right direction, or even on the wrong journey?
And thinking about my journey was I:
- Taking others with me that I need on the journey?
- Making sure those at the destination are the people I need or want to be there?
- Acknowledging that some people are valuable for part of the journey but their needs, and mine, do not always have to match for the long term?
Some powerful thoughts and I hope some good questions for you to take action over too.
So was my trip worthwhile having had the time to be ‘disconnected’ for a while? Did I create a deeper discovery? Did I enjoy and value the people I connected with? You bet – and I must get ‘disconnected’ more often so I am more ‘connected’ at a much deeper level with the real people in my work, in my life.
How about you – would getting a little ‘disconnected’ help you be more connected with the real people that should matter to you?
You may not be at 30,000 feet but you can still stop……if you choose!
My best wishes,
Peter
