Tonight J is on call and I have been flying about trying to Get Things Done. After being consumed with Little One and doctors and hospitals I am miles behind on positively everything, and I would love to say that I'm all bohemian and Hakuna Matata about things like the holidays, and grocery shopping, and cleaningandlaundryandpicturesnadcardsandemailsandmenusandbudgetsand about ten thousand other things like that, but I am not. I am Not. Zen. There is dust on my baseboards, and it makes me feel a little tight in the chest. Sad, sad. But true.
So here I am, checking off my mental checklist (because for heavens sake I'm even behind on writing out my to do list) and chopping onions and the phone is ringing. And just then. Little One presses Her fingertips together. She cocks Her head to the side, and looks up at me with big, big eyes. She says: "Mamma? Play? Mommy play with Little One? Please have tea party me?"
Oh jeeze. The onions are sizzling, peanuts. People on the phone are talking into my other ear. The dust in on the baseboards and the dishes are in the sink and I do not have time to sit on the floor and sip air. I do not. Except for Einstein.
Einstein had this little theory you've probably heard of called Special Relativity, which he explained like this: "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."
This is why, I suppose, when you have nothing to do- stuck in an airport waiting out a storm delay for instance- time draaaaags on and the day takes ages to go by. But when you're busy- chasing after a toddler while on a phone conference and cooking dinner for instance- time flashes by and you wonder where the day went.
I was a science major, Peanuts. Did you know that? Yep. I know all about Relativity. Which is a good thing! Because Einsteins' little theory there helps me realize that it's precisely because I'm so busy, it's especially when I'm very busy, that it is more important than ever to FREEZE. Hang up the phone, turn off the stove, leave messes to themselves. And have a tea party.
Because if I have to spend time doing something that makes the days go by way too quickly, it ought to be something that matters.
Good Choice. When similarly stressed with life and little ones, my mantra was BE HERE NOW. That made me stop and focus and somehow it all worked out. Einstein would be proud of you. I know I am.
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