Remembering the basics

“Have you noticed how quick time seems to fly?”  I asked a friend once, “is it just me or have you noticed this too?” my friend nodded, noting the gray that now invaded the once dark hair.

I am not sure if it is us getting older, or that time has seemed to take an upbeat, quick in its escape. If we really think about it, nothing has changed in the measure of time. There are still 60 seconds to a minute and 60 minutes to an hour. Still we note that as the year ends we continue to grapple with all the things that still need to be done that we want to stretch each moment so we can accommodate all the “to do’s” that may not even be essential in the final analysis of how to live our lives.

I find myself as of this writing, in the airport. Waiting for the time to take my flight. Yes, it was moved two hours later. Well, yeah, I can lament, but I will only waste my time all the more, so I chose to use it to reflect. So reflect with me.

I am sure that some of you have read about or watched the Netflix run on the Blue Zone.  Living to a 100 with quality. Not the ailing, forgotten and sad centenarian. But a happy productive 100 or more year-old. Can we still achieve this at this point in our lives, when everything seems to be quick. Instant-everything push-button all? Even our lives take the same pace. Quick and fleeting. Some even without much relevance like the fast food without nutrients.  What a waste!

My reflection, triggered by my recent road trips, has brought me to review the basics.  The beautiful natural landscape of greens that have been encouraged by the rains that pour in almost every afternoon as of late. How nice it is to just walk around, breathe fresh air and waste time using it well. What?

Well, if taking leisurely walks and moments to just bend over and smell new blooms or bask in the crispness of mountain air with faces lifted to the sun means less business hours, it may look like a waste to those who always equate time with earning. For me though, I am earning a longer life, by resting my eyes on the lush greens, feeding my blood stream with fresh picks from the garden and the sweet fresh catch from the sea, wow this is life!

And we are missing this as we slowly take in the lifestyle of some first world countries who have emblazoned brands, and make us covet them. So we work our bodies to weariness to cope with a lifestyle that is taxing and not sustainable. We have missed on the contentment. The simplicity of sharing stories with friends, respecting and treasuring the wisdom of our elders, and taking short and leisurely walks that invigorate our bodies and maintain health.

Technology has made us connect. And it is wonderful. But nothing replaces the feel of a hand and the strength of an embrace. The unspoken message we read in a person’s eyes, or shared giggles in the hearty occasions of maritess.

We need to retain the sense of community that is very Filipino and not embrace the cold shoulder of apathy that is given the name of independence sometimes among our adult children.

I now understand why Jesus broke bread before he left for heaven. He had that last meal after resurrection with His disciples before His ascension. He was practicing the sense of community. Eating together. Not the quick bite and a brush on the cheek our family gives us in the haste of going to work or school. Eating together as a family must be preserved to converse and keep the knowing of each other.

If we have lost these things now, perhaps we can go back to the basics. This is the real business of business after business.