So, as we age we slow down in many ways. This may be physically and mentally. However NOT necessarily negatively. With age comes wisdom and wisdom may need a bit more thinking time. When asked a tough question my Grandfather used to say “Mmmm I’ll need to put on my thinking cap for that one!” – Time to consider and cogitate!

The wisdom of the elders in many cultures is a given, unfortunately not much in the western world – Except maybe for US Presidents, but let’s not go there!!

 

One thing I’ve learned with children and co-workers much younger than I ist that although it’s easy to learn from ones mistakes, it’s much harder to learn from the mistakes of others and it’s frustrating to see them fall at the very same hurdles and at the same time bite your lip when your inner voice is screaming “I told you so!”

 

So on vacation I now found it much more pleasurable taking time and having ‘rest days’ or time to chill and reflect rather than rush around another temple or cathedral – In fact I get some perverse pleasure in taking a coffee in the piaza watching the slow queue wind its way almost imperceptibly toward the entrance knowing full well the fee is huge and the line inside leads quickly to the gift shop.

 

I’ve been to Venice maybe three or four times and have yet to visit St Mark’s Basilica – Have I missed out? Probably, but it was damn fine coffee!!

(..or if you prefer just be smarter! https://www.venice.nu/tips/avoid-the-queues/

 

 

 

 

Now let me tell you a story. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin!

An Airbus 380 is on its way across the Atlantic. It flies consistently at 800 km/h at 30,000 feet, when suddenly a Eurofighter with a Tempo Mach 2 appears.The pilot of the fighter jet slows down, flies alongside the Airbus and greets the pilot of the passenger plane by radio: “Airbus, boring flight isn’t it? Now have a look here!”

He rolls his jet on its back, accelerates, breaks through the sound barrier, rises rapidly to a dizzying height, and then swoops down almost to sea level in a breathtaking dive. He loops back next to the Airbus and asks: “Well, how was that?”

The Airbus pilot answers: “Very impressive, but watch this!”

The jet pilot watches the Airbus, but nothing happens. It continues to fly straight, at the same speed. After 15 minutes, the Airbus pilot radios, “Well, how was that?

Confused, the jet pilot asks, “What did you do?”

The AirBus pilot laughs and says: “I got up, stretched my legs, walked to the back of the aircraft to use the washroom, then got a cup of coffee and a chocolate fudge pastry.”

The moral of the story is: When you’re young, speed and adrenaline seems to be great. But as you get older and wiser, you learn that comfort and peace are more important.

This is called S.O.S.: Slower, Older and Smarter.

Dedicated to all TOYLers everywhere ~ it’s time to slow down and enjoy the rest of the trip.