Pace to Pace

July 6

Those who know me well, know I am quite obsessed with making good use of time.  There are ways to plan activities and errands to maximize time. Sitting through long discussions and presentations are not my favorite things to do, as it most often seems we can get to the point and the action much quicker.  Action makes things happen, is generally my mantra.

Having written all of that, I believe that one of the reasons I travel so much to work is that this mantras of mine are often challenged and I am placed in the position of reassessing what I believe and how I operate to consider other ways to accomplish tasks and how those differences might have hidden benefits.  In essence, I need to let go and experience (sometimes struggle) with new ways of engaging with life. 

This second project I am working on in Majuro has provided such challenges on two levels.  First, there is so much that people get involved with here that time takes on a more fluid sense.  Being on time seems to be more about being available to be with the people one has promised to spend time with.  Most folks are tolerant about the fluidity of time, recognizing that time spent with others is more valuable than respecting time itself.  The second level is that this project is less structured than most experiences I get involved with.  Amazingly, that is the design of the grant program itself, to offer the freedom for the participating artists to be more fluid in their partnership as they explore ways to work together.  Since I am in the role of support, I have had to sit back and simply wait to hear how things are progressing.  I do not ‘do,’ I support. Woo, what a challenge for me!  As I watch the fluid progression of our project, I keep reflecting on all of the ways I would do the project, how I would change things, how I would move ahead (dare I say it) quicker!  But here’s where ‘Pace yourself’ comes into play.  I am providing support for a project that is meant to be a reflection of this place.  So it is important for me to be an observer and learner, not try to reshape the project to what I believe should happen. 

I’ll be honest.  I experience restlessness and frustration at times.  But I am trying to use that time to better understand the world I chose to experience rather than bring the experience into my world.  Hard.  And frankly, I don’t believe that many are willing to let go like that.  So, I repeat the new mantra, ‘Follow the pace, don’t force it.’