Ever feel like you are Zip-Lining Monday to Friday? Wake up, hook onto the fact it’s Monday, gather some momentum, make sure you have a brew of java and then fly through the week until you hit the other side -which most of us call Friday!
Many of us work Monday to Friday. We fill our days with time lines, hustle and bustle, blips on the radar, friends, family, work and responsibility. We have ‘to do lists’, appointments and things we wish to accomplish between Monday and Friday. We make the list, check it twice, scratch off, pencil in, ink and underline and then start again. We Zip-line along, sometimes forgetting to open our eyes and see the most beautiful sights of all – faces and places that are exquisite and unique.
In speaking to many people, such as stay at home moms, corporate individuals, young professionals and creative business owners I found that most tend to follow a similar regime. A regime that goes something like this: Zip along and get from point M (for Monday ) to point F (for Friday ) – if successful celebrate with a WWW, which of course stands for ‘ Win Wonderful Weekend’. Sounds zippy and full of promise ? Maybe, but are we missing out? Are we catching the scenery of Life and really experiencing the world around us?
Truth be told, it seems like we “Zip-Line” Monday to Friday as if these days were bookends, and the orderly chapters of our lives lay within these anchors. In thinking about it, (and I do think about it a lot) it makes some sense. We are a bit conditioned to the pattern of weekend play. It’s as if we perform with acrobatic precision and juggle masterfully during the week days. We hurry along, showcasing our abilities to be productive and responsible while under extreme pressure to be many roles to many people. It’s almost as if we fast track in order to receive our certificate to exhale. If we make it to Friday, we tell ourselves we can bend the rules and live outside of our zip-line apparatus and route for the weekend.
Though I get the overall logic that is attached to this kind of regime,I can’t help but think that we are somehow missing out on a lot of “living” and spectacular scenery inbetween the bookends and along the beautiful pathway of life! I think it is something worth pondering. In fact, I believe it is worth some exploration.
Of course, I am not suggesting we ditch our work ethics and endorse ALL play and no work. I am however, suggesting that we take in the view a bit more during the week. I know I am going to make the effort. I believe we have what it takes to slow down a tad, feel and maximize the experience of people and places around us. We can make that choice and feel good about it. After all, we do not want to miss out. We wish to make the connection! We want to engage and fill our lives with positive experiences and the fantastic joy of meeting and greeting all the sensational people that live in and outside of our life.
Today might be the perfect day, to reflect on your week’s ‘zip-lining’ experience and your travel journey between point M and point F. It really boils down to this: “If we are going to Zip-Line Monday to Friday then how can we make the whole zip-lining experience more rewarding? ”
Let’s face it, when you think of someone actually zip-lining – the word exhilarating does come to mind. So, if we are choosing to Zip-Line Monday to Friday, I am thinking we should actually spend a bit of time figuring out how we can ‘balance” exhilarating with empowering, and enriching with edifying . This way the entire experience can manageably become extremely gratifying. So, the next time you harness up for a whirlwind week, don’t just think of it as getting from point M to point F. Think about it more like a chapter in your life’s storybook adventure. Expect thrills and spills, dips and highlights, rain and shine. After all folks, this is not Disneyland – this is real life living! Enjoying the view, while we are zip-lining, is just one of the many ways we can propel positive forward.
YOU be YOU! Make the Connection.
Tara
Tara, I know what you mean, you are so right that it can be just like that Zip line week to week. I agree that if you have to use that Zipline that you should at least enjoy the ride. But for me (as you say) there is a lot in-between start and stop.
There has to be balance, and the problem with a zip line is that it is fixed, from point A.(monday) to point B.(friday) Life is anything but fixed, and we would all be well advised to take another form of transportation sometimes. We get stuck in ruts so easily and it can be hard to see that you are even in one. Before you know it, you have spent days, weeks, months, years using that same Zip line. We have approximately 1,000 months on this planet to live the best life we can. Use the Zip Line if you have to, but remember, you are missing a lot to get to where, 999 months and then start living ?
Great post,
Thanks for reminding me to slow down,
Simon