Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Is faster or slower better or worse? Or is it simply different timing and rhythm? And are there advantages to changing the timing and rhythm?

This past week I was in an office in a different city. Frustration, angst, and generally a lousy week of poor productivity. Just before the week ended, I understood the frustration, and then it went away.

It was all about timing and rhythm.

Andy Rooney used a manual typewriter until he died … in 2011. He tried and tried to use a computer, but it went too fast. The timing was different, and he couldn’t adjust to the timing, even though it was “better.”

My experience last week was “worse.” The computers were S L O W. I was three clicks ahead. I was not seeing what I expected. I was frustrated. This was worse.

I finally understood. Oh, the timing is different. Adjust to the difference in timing. This isn’t better or worse, it is different. Ah, that is better. This is okay. I actually had more time to think, more time to breathe. Some aspects of this timing were better. Perhaps I could adjust when I returned home to better thinking and better breathing. Perhaps I could adjust my timing and rhythm.