Lost time . . .

I used to refer to a day like today as a "lost day." The kind of non-productive day that seems to allow for little or no accomplishment until, finally, I am forced to throw up my arms, surrender in frustration, and vow to start fresh in the morning to make up for "lost" time. Well, I've learned a few things over years of observing patterns. Patterns can be very revealing but only if we contemplate their worth and take the time to absorb what they quietly unveil. Although these periods of dormancy have the look and feel of regression or sloth, I believe, in actuality, they are plateaus (little rest stops) in our onward, upward, ever-progressive lives.

I should make it quite clear that these thoughts are not meant to provide a readily available excuse for pure laziness! That would be putting "cause" before "effect" ... "cart" before the "horse" ... "egg" before the "chicken." On second thought, let's forget the chicken and egg analogy since I'm not sure if that theory has ever been resolved.

For me, the plateau pattern has become predictably reliable. That is, I can rest assured it will be a transitional time with some significant learning evolving. It was through music lessons that this concept was first introduced to me. Frustrated, I would begin to lose confidence when periods of progress were interrupted by these plateaus. That's what my music mentor called them -- plateaus. Her eyes would widen and sparkle with excitement as she said, "This is when the learning is happening!" She knew this as a result of her own experience and I believe that's why she seemed so eager to pass it on. I found the wisdom of her words to be very true. Not only as they applied then, to the violin, but later, to life in general.

Over time, I have come to value these interruptions in the flow of things, although admittedly quite impatiently, at times. Each one is like a little rebirth ... a step forward ... leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar ... no turning back. What an adventure we are in for when we come into this world and live this thing called life! Sure, it includes heartaches. But even they are "plateaus" where (as my wise mentor once said) some very serious learning is happening. How marvelous, how awesome, are the delicate intricacies of day to day living! How honored I feel to be part of this Grand Masterpiece and to have time to take in the view from each plateau!