These days, I am embracing and appreciating the time it takes me to complete tasks. By letting my many projects marinade, each is given  the time needed to grow and mature.  Ideas and execution, for some, are fast-tracked.  To me, they mature into each other like fine wine.  I have been productive, yet deliberately steeping.  Pondering and moving slowly- yet inexorably – like a steamroller- not drowning in manic busywork as some do, in order to avoid their naked thoughts.

There is a saying: slowly but surely. I like that. I hope in that.  I think coming to terms with one’s pace is part of accepting the way we process life, events, feelings.  I think it is important to honor one’s response time in terms of well-being, and artistic and creative output.  Of course this runs counter-intuitive to all the deadlines we (architecture) professors set for our students, and I do not know how to solve the riddle – or that of quality over quantity – when we need to have certain set standards for assignments and projects.

Not easy.

It used to be perfectionism and fear of success (yes, you heard right) that froze me – but now I have seen enough to know the seasons and the flows of activities- and that everything is cyclical.  I do still procrastinate.  I do wait for inspiration with major creative task, and for the right time (it usually comes at night). Miracles do happen to me right before something is due. But, somehow, everything comes together beautifully.  When I produce, it is exactly what I envision, often better…the pieces, transformed by time, fit in more perfect ways. Serendipity comes into play.                And in serendipity and promethean connection lies the magic.

I may be late, but I’m always on time.

My friend Bruce, in his Myth and Symbols class, in order to explain the ‘myth of time’ compared absolute time with miti time. All the students knew what he meant and smiled.

It made me giggle.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

Abraham Lincoln