time

Lesson from Bees: Take care. Slow down.

This year we started bee keeping. Kelly (my spouse) is the real bee keeper and initiator of this.

I was working in the hive, doing a routine inspection and moving some frames around.

I was going too quick. The bees could tell before I could. They got a little restless because of it.

I was able to notice this and realized I needed to finish up and close up to give them some peace from my interruption to their day.

Often my norm is quick, momentum focused, efficiency driven.

The bees are teaching me to take care and slow down.

Some of the best times and most valuable experiences I’ve had are because there has been care and slowness to it.

If there truly is enough for me, why do I rush?

I’m going to be working to take more care and slow down in my days.

“The Chronovirus”

Austin Kleon says “what the virus really destroys is our sense of time. Days feel like weeks. Months feel like seconds.”

I agree that the routine, being restricted, feeling on edge often has removed my normal sense of time.

As I proceed, I’m going to be paying more attention to my body and the environment around me to notice things passing.

Rather than a click of a watch, I’ll listen for my heartbeat or a pace of breathing.
Rather than waiting for an computer reminder for a late morning meeting, I’ll look for the sun to stop shoning directly into my East facing office window.
Rather than look at the clock to find when to start making dinner, I’ll simply make dinner after an evening walk with the dogs.

These are less about routine and more about rhythm. Rhythm can change structure and tempo.

There is still familiarity in rhythm even if it switches around.

Check out Weather Report’s Birdland. One of my favorite jazz songs as it varies throughout the track yet carries with it a familiar and predictable return to its rhythm.

Beware the illusion of time. Do what matters. Be you.

And sometimes we just need a beat between songs. Take time to buck the routine and get in touch with your own rhythm. Take a break.