Tortoise and Hair

I have been told that I should embrace different cultures. I should travel and experience different ways of life. To taste the fruits of foreign labors and to dip my toes in new waters. I have now realised that I may just be the Hair... when I always imagined I'd be the Tortoise.

In Asia I have come to find that I bump into people. I've been told I walk fast, but never at a speed that is faster than the average. In Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, they walk at a pace that is slow, a pace that seems to drag their hot feet and not get anywhere too quickly... With no need for speed, are we doing it all wrong?

We grow up with the knowledge that we should try and not be beaten to the post, a medal for the winners and the fast and hungry succeed. Did we forget about the Tortoise and Hair? Why do we speed up rather than slow down? Does Asia have it right - are we losing the race and burning out too quickly?

It's frustrating when you want to get somewhere fast, when all you want to do is reach your destination quickly and efficiently. I walk down the street in Singapore and I am getting no where fast. If the bus comes, they won't rush. If there is a queue they move down slowly and if there's choices to be made - they take their time. Food comes when it is ready and sometimes you wait till the other has finished before you get your starter. It seems so backward, but works at the same time.

The Tortoise takes breaks and slows down, not tiring itself out and the Hair peaks too early - Maybe the key is in the in-between.

Perhaps in this part of the world they can be slow and still be high achievers. It might work. Maybe we could take some of this on board and slow down the pace. Knocking into others is not good - but sometimes we need to be faster. Sometimes we can't be late and need to make that bus. Sometimes high speeds allow for more time for other more important things.

I have been told I need to travel. I need to experience and learn from other cultures. I understand this more than ever now. The key is not who wins in being fast or slow - it's the getting there. We could learn from the slow pace, as I am sure they can learn from a fast pace.

The Tortoise and Hair isn't a race. They have different qualities that are both needed and can be useful.

Learning from others makes you realise that sometimes there's no need to speed... and sometimes you need to find your own pace in the rat race of life. Fast or slow and sometimes in-between.

One size doesn't always fit all.