The Return of Jonathan the Tortoise

In fourth grade, I learned about Jonathan the tortoise, a 192-year-old giant and the longest-lived land animal ever recorded.

And when I was in 4th grade, I swore to myself that I’d outlive him.

I do not think I’m winning.

I like to do things slowly and methodically. I’ve found that if I put time, attention and effort into something I produce that it will become what is most reflective of me.

There exists no “perfect”. But when we present something to someone else, to the world, like this post for example, I want it to be as authentically me as possible. What’s the point of making something if it doesn’t change me in the process?

And yet, more often than I’d like, I still catch myself rushing. Why is it, that when I understand the value of putting time, effort and attention into everything I create, that I still find myself lacking in the process?

Time, attention, love. These resources are extremely valuable. And we often bite off more than we can chew.

The Planning Fallacy refers to our tendency to underestimate the time it will take to complete a future task despite knowing that similar tasks have taken longer in the past. Homeowners underestimate how much time renovations will take. Writers underestimate the amount of time they’ll need to complete a novel. Product managers underestimate how long a new feature will take to build.

Eating veggies is key to a long life.

If you find yourself rushing, a careful evaluation of what motivates you to have something done by a certain time can be a very useful tool to have.

I realized that most of us are in the category of actually working towards a life where we can take our time. Whatever vision you have for your future, the hobby you have, the place you live, the work you do, it’s in a relaxed state of mind.

And many years ago, when you were thinking of yourself now, you imagined yourself being in a relaxed place. Where you can take your time. Where you don’t have to rush.

I think it is a version of hell is to live an entire life that’s rushed. One that is reactive instead of proactive.

In the torsoise and the hare, the tortoise wins the race when the rabbit stops to sleep. I bet that reading that story as children, many of us swore we’d never be the rabbit in our own story.

Consistency and pacing defeats haste, as haste must rest just short of the finish line.

Life is only short if measured alongside a small number of experiences.

~ Jonathan the Tortoise