Last week I was extolling the virtues of slowing down - today I am frustrated by someone who has followed that principle.
Not having mastered the art of being in two places at once I am trying to track down a retired minister to take the second funeral. I am after a particular person who knew the lady well, and have a 'new to the family' back up already in place. Simply a matter of phoning to ask if Rev Retired is available... yes but one of the privileges of retirement is to no longer be at the beck and call of the phone, and he has ditched the answerphone.
In days of old, there were no such things as answerphones, and if you were out and about then no way to let you know I will be late, or can't make it - unless I call to leave a message at the restaurant etc. Life went on, and seemed to be much the same in many ways.
But today the expectations are different, answers are needed promptly - especially when planning a funeral. The answerphone allows me to pass the ball over to someone else's court. I have left them a message, and my task is done until they either call back or some fixed time/date comes and goes when I decide that either they have run away or are ignoring me. Then I go onto plan B
In contrast last night and today (my day off allegedly) I have had to hold on the the responsibility of chasing myself, phoning at different times to try and get someone in. I can't move the To Do note or risk forgetting that I need to try again. Not quite following the OHIO rule - Only Handle It Once - which was referred to yesterday in a meeting as a way to deal with admin tasks.
Being constantly available at the end of the phone or email, web banking, 24 hour shops, it all adds to a culture of the now, of the immediate - and that ups the pressure in a fast world. We rightly need to stand up against this, to rebel against this expectation of speed. But we cannot uninvent things, or return to life before, and despite our frustrations most of us wouldn't want to lose all the advantages of the computer and the mobile phone, or of GPS tracking that allows the call centre to see and send the nearest ambulance.
We need a balance, working effectively ('Of course I don't look busy... I did it right the first time') with all the useful tools and technology - but still resisting the call to do more than we can handle. That means being aware of our abilities and our limits. After 2 funeral meetings and a youth club on Friday I knew I was all peopled out, so hid in the house Saturday, poking at some admin but mostly allowing myself time to recharge before Sunday duties.
One of the gifts of depression and limited energy levels is that I have had to learn to know myself and be ready to pull in on the layby before risking falling asleep at the wheel...
Meanwhile lets try that phone number again... And I may get up and dressed too...
No comments:
Post a Comment