The Need For Speed (General)

Yesterday at lunch, I heard a story that seemed to be a perfect example of what happens to me if I don’t occasionally stop for lunch, and make time for stories.... Ken told us of his love for snow skiing, and how as a kid, he would ski down the mountain as fast as he could time after time. He loved the wind rushing in his face and the thrill of that kind of speed on two small pieces of wood facing the challenge of the mountain. And then he shared an “ah ha” moment when he came upon another ski trail, and was forced to stop to check for other skiers. In that brief stop, as he looked around the slopes for other skiers, he was captured by the beauty of the mountain. He saw the snow, the trees, and the giant white landscape in a whole new way. A scene that had always been present, was hard to observe while racing down the mountain. This moment of pause had produced a whole new perspective of enjoyment of the skiing experience.... For me, at that moment, in Omega deli, Ken's story was the perfect illustration of my day. I had been racing through my day at 50 miles an hour, to “get up my mountain” when suddenly, unexpectedly, I stopped and just enjoyed the moment, without thinking of the pressing deadlines of my afternoon. Even the rest of my day was a little more enjoyable because sometimes you do feel the need for speed, but sometimes, if you just pause for a moment, you can enjoy the beauty that surrounds you on the journey down the mountain.