Lackadaisically sitting at the office, decided to browse through a book of Aesop’s Fables.
Boy, it’s been many years since I last read any of this enslaved black man’s clever stories and notable gems.
Didn’t think that within a span of five minutes I would receive a “thunderbolt” of knowledge that truly encapsulated my life:
“Fear lends wings to the feet.”
Wow! Spent an inordinate amount of time digesting and mulling over that parable!
My BFF, Wesley, has frequently chastised me because in his estimation I am a turbojet. In other words, I am often accelerating from one project/idea/task/responsibility/problem/issue to another project/idea/task/responsibility/problem/issue.
In his mind’s eye, I don’t take enough time to “relax” and enjoy my minutes!
Second that motion!
When admonished by him to incorporate “relaxation” into my busy schedule, I would often respond with jittery laughter.
Or, I would find myself at an intellectual roadblock by being tongue-tied. Most times could not understand why I failed to harness enough militantness to combat or challenge his views or perceptions especially since I am famously noted for hellishly imparting come “choice” responses from my lips!
Laugh out loud!
Then, Aesop came to the rescue:
“Fear lends wings to the feet.”
Reflecting, discovered that “fear” had been front and center of my torrid life which often propelled me to make some hasty and ill-advised decisions that were frequently detrimental to my “pursuit of happiness.”
Conversely, “fear” had also been my “driver” which compelled my “feet” to accomplish goals, to meet deadlines, to surpass milestones, or to far exceed erroneous expectations of me!
In other words, Wesley and others, I didn’t have the luxury to proceed throughout life with a tortoise’s pace and mind-set!
Consequently, this determined black woman often did not have enough time to “relax” because I had always been in a perpetual state of “apprehension” and felt that the only viable solution available to me was to blast through life “quick, fast, and always in a damn hurry.”
Until now, never stopped to smell the roses!
However, the obliteration of Flight 370 became a practical example of the lesson that I think Wesley was subliminally trying to teach me—-which is life is not promised and that I needed to stop to “smell those roses” more often than not.
Therefore, beginning immediately I will earnestly heed Wesley’s advice and begin “smelling some of my roses” and also start enjoying some of my minutes by….
The sun will not set without me demonstrating to my “soul mate” my eternal commitment and undying affection for him. Flight 370 taught me that each day I should shower him with home-made love, spoil him with accolades, overstock him with acts of kindness, and ensure that I offer unconditional supportiveness of his dreams, his goals, and his desires. My “sweetheart” will always know that he is appreciated, treasured, admired, revered, and above all, so deeply loved by me.
Finally, Flight 370 showed me that I should remove any words, deeds, and actions that conjure apprehension and withdraws any substantial minutes from the quality of my life!
As the late Dr. Benjamin Mays so aptly stated:
“I only have a minute—60 seconds in it.
Forced upon me I did not choose it,
But I know that I must use it….
Suffer if I lose it….
Give account if I abuse it.
Only a tiny minute….but eternity is in it.”
