The elasticity of time

“Your call is important to us. An agent will be available to serve you shortly.”

“You’ll be back to your regular activities in no time”.

What do these two sentences have in common? THE PERCEPTION of time!

I was told, “You’ll be able to resume your regular activities soon.” This was after the back surgery I underwent on January 19. A short, reassuring, almost light sentence. And I naively thought that two days later, I’d be “on fire” (a colourful expression we use in Quebec to say that we’re in great shape).

Two weeks later, the pain is still there… and the word quickly has taken on a whole new color.

At the same time, a message has been looping through my phone for 54 minutes now: “Your call is important to us. An agent will answer you shortly.” Shortly… a surprisingly elastic concept when you’ve been waiting on the other end of the line for almost an hour.

What strikes me is how subjective time becomes in these moments.

The same quarter of an hour can go by too quickly when you’re feeling good… or become interminable when you’re suffering, when you’re waiting, when you’re hoping to be heard.

Time hasn’t slowed down. We’re just living it differently.

Did you know that, according to studies, to get all the health benefits, we should laugh energetically for 10 to 15 minutes a day?! THAT’S A LONG TIME! HAHAHA!

Experience it with me here. Just 5 minutes. But it’s better than nothing at all.

How did you find the time? I vividly remember the moment I recorded this video because I wanted to hold on laughing for 3 minutes. Then, when the time was up, I couldn’t stop! So I kept going! Well… why not? HAHAHA!

🌀 Mission of the week

This week, give yourself 3 minutes. Yes, just three. Set a stopwatch… and intentionally laugh until the end. Observe what happens: the urge to stop, the impatience, the gaze that searches for the stretching of time. Then notice also that moment – sometimes subtle – when something relaxes, the body surrenders and the laughter becomes truer.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just present. Just alive.

Like waiting… just standing there changes everything.

And since this week, Monday was “Groundhog Day”… do it again every day!

With a smile and my affection

Laughter, joy and health

Linda