I just had lunch with an older friend of mine. He drove a whopping 30 miles per hour the whole way to the restaurant, and he opted to stay in the "fast" lane of traffic.
Other drivers weaved their cars around us, so they could arrive at their destinations more quickly. My friend, well, he was oblivious to the aggravation he was causing neighboring drivers. He continued to drive at his own pace, while the world raced on around him.
And then there was lunch.
I powered through my hamburger, fries, and salad in short order while he took his time, cutting each piece of medium-rare steak methodically, taking about one bite every five minutes. More important to him, it seems, was our time together and stories well-told. Me, I was completely interested in what he had to say, don't get me wrong, but I was constantly thinking about the ticking seconds and minutes left in my work day.
Lunch today was a positive exercise, not only because it was delicious (and free) but because my friend forced me to slow down for things that need to be taken more slowly: eating, friendship, conversation, and yes, driving.
No comments:
Post a Comment