I like walking fast.
I often walk quickly because,
- a) is my main mode of transportation, and
- b) I’m not a fan of tight spaces, stuck in the midst of randomly moving strangers.
So, on crowded sidewalks, I’ll often try to find a fast moving person to walk behind.
Swimming in their wake, as they cut a swath through the packed mass of human meat clogging the arteries of my travel plan.
I look at these speedy people like Bruce Willis in Die Hard Three, following an ambulance in full siren through the congested street traffic to get more directly where he’s going.
Because of this mental image, I began referring to these faster walking people as “Ambulances”.
Stuck.
One day, I found myself stuck behind the Slowest Person Ever, with no hope of
escape. Unless I was willing to run out into the middle of busy traffic. Which I considered.
Faced with the choice of Acceptance or Death, I decided to try Acceptance.
To find a way to convince myself that, for some reason I don’t know, this person is Necessary.
Allowing myself to believe that they were placed there specifically by Fate – right that very moment – to – slow – me – down.
That it was Important I meet this Resistance to my unconscious Assumption of speed.
That they were a Sign that I needed to become more Mindful of my moment.Â
In an attempt to accept this turgid person, I named them – my “Slowbulance”.
I Am where I Need to be.
If I can Accept that I’m Meant to be in whatever space I’m occupying Right Now, I can exist more fully within every Moment.
I can’t truly Be anywhere other than where I Am, or exist in a Plan of the Future.
I understand that Schedules must be kept, and some of us have agoraphobic concerns which drive our need for speed. But the more we can catch ourselves unconsciously projecting three-dimensional assumptions on any situation, the less we find ourselves unnecessarily starting wars with what actually is.
Now, when I feel stuck behind somebody who’s slower than dust, I try harder to accept
that my newfound Slowbulance friend is providing me with a – Necessary Service.
Teaching me to Relax in the face of Expectation and synchronize with my Life.
I have to trust that Fate will get me to where I’m going at the Right time
if not at the Assumed one.
Love your Slowbulances! They’re here to help.