Say nothing ....do nothing ....

On this the 15th of June, the first day of my 56th year, I was taught a great lesson. This is the same lesson that I have been learning for at least 40 years. Wait for it........

Our world in 2015 demands immediate, informed action, especially in NYC where time is money and he who hesitates is lost. But often, over and over, I have wished that:
1) I hadn't sent that email so quickly
2) I hadn't rushed to judgement
3) I hadn't listened to my colleagues, my peers , my rabbi (oy!), or the media and had just let things play out.

Not sure why this seems the logical choice, whether waiting a day or 2 allows us to cool off emotionally, or if it's the fact that the universe takes 24 to 48 hours to converge and restore all dimensions to normalcy.  Obviously this knowledge is "anecdotal"

This is why I am not a day trader, or a general on the ground directing troops to victory or their death, or a suicide hotline operator.  Where split second, devil may care decisions are needed, deep knowledge and vast experience make those decisions instinctive. But equally instinctive, in normal life, should be the decision to act or wait.

Given the influence of media and technology on our society (more data updated constantly) I think we need a default reality check that says ignore your first reaction and maybe your second, and see if reality has changed. When it does, and you take a breath, you can now synchronize with new data arriving, and gauge how quick and decisive the appropriate response should be.

At my age, once you've resisted the first and second impulse to respond, you've forgotten what the problem is. Ah, the joys of senior citizenship. My next post will deal with procrastination, the dangerous result of taking the above mentioned philosophy too far.  Will have that post... well not sure, whats the hurry, whenever.

Basil update: those pesky tomato plants are shielding the basils from mother sun, so they are skimpy. But once the weather gets hot (I mean hot !), nothing will stop my basil children. Also growing basil from seeds supplied by a famous producer, and in weeks they will join the ranks.

Keep the faith, and share the love (and basil).