My Mum always used to use the phrase: “more haste, less speed.”
Meaning if you try to do things too quickly, it will take you longer in the end.
I think when I was a lot younger I used to think it was one of those annoying phrases that older people used to show off their wisdom.
I quickly learned that wasn’t the case.
How many times have I typed something so quickly, that a quick glance over reveals it’s full of errors?
Back to the beginning to read it through and correct everything.
Taking me twice as long than if I’d just typed it out carefully in the first place.
Or rushing out the door, grabbing my bag and knocking something over.
The chances are rushing anything will lead to mistakes, and the task having to be re-done or repaired in some way.
Apparently the phrase comes from the Latin Festina lente: make haste slowly.
Which according to Wikipedia is in itself a translation from Classical Greek.
It’s even alluded to in Aesop’s fable ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’.
Slow and steady wins the day.
It’s also very much aligned with mindfulness.
Paying attention.
Noticing what’s going on, right now in this moment.
For example while writing this, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.
I could easily have ignored it as we’ve been getting some quotes and I’ve been flicking between my blog and emails all morning.
I had to make a decision by 1pm, and it had already gone 12.
But I looked up.
There, on a chair outside my office window, was a Magpie.
It seemed aware of me, but not bothered by me.
It decided to fluff up its feathers in the sun.
Then promptly fell asleep.
I stopped everything and just watched for a while.
So beautiful.
So lucky to get this close to nature.
By stopping to watch the Magpie I had, inadvertently, given myself more material to write about!
By paying attention to what was happening right in front of me.
Something I could have easily missed.
How many times have you eaten a meal, especially at work (probably sitting at your desk, reading emails or social media)… and not really noticed the food at all?
Sometimes we treat eating like a task.
A function one has to do.
Rather than noticing what you are eating and how it tastes.
How many times do you go for a walk and not notice the sky, the trees, the birds?
Instead you’re busy thinking about ‘stuff’.
How many times do you arrive at a destination, and you haven’t really observed the journey at all?
How did I get here?
We’re all in this state of busyness.
Rushing around.
Generally making more haste and less speed.
(Thanks Mum!)
Oh, and I still managed to decide on a quote before the deadline.
Ann 🙏