LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Today, I'm pausing to catch my breath and find my pace." Russ Cline

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

September is here, and if you're like me, it came with a bit of SHOCK. How can it be September? I've been thinking about the idea of PACE. Back a couple of months ago, I spent some time on RHYTHM, and I realize that PACE is different. I'm going to dive into it this month. Join me...

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

It's been a very full 11 days, and today I'm simply going to pause to catch my breath, and then restart at my pace.

Sometimes I just need to do that.

When was the last time you just stopped or paused in order to catch your breath?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Every flower blooms at a different pace." Suzy Kassem

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

September is here, and if you're like me, it came with a bit of SHOCK. How can it be September? I've been thinking about the idea of PACE. Back a couple of months ago, I spent some time on RHYTHM, and I realize that PACE is different. I'm going to dive into it this month. Join me...

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

The quote by Kassem above was really just a reminder that while every flower blooms different, we as people are all different as well.

As we talk about PACE, I think one of the biggest pressure points comes to each of us as we compare ourselves to others, thinking that we need to all move at the same pace, whether that be a slow pace or a fast pace.

Recently I was having breakfast with a small group of people, and as we ate and talked, we moved through our breakfast all differently. Some focused on eating first, and then engaged in conversation. One was completely focused on engaging with others that he didn't even begin to eat until most of us were through. Other's kind of ate and talked and moved through the meal together. All different approaches, all fine, but we are different.

I realized that for me, I ate quickly, anticipating a deeper and more engaging conversation after the meal over a cup of coffee. Now as I think about it, I was probably more focused on the food in front of me than the people in front of me, but my motivation was to "eat and then talk". Just thinking about this will cause me to consider what's going on around the table the next time we gather.

That's pace. We're all different because of the way we were raised, because of the ways we approach different situations, because of how we've learned.

At the meal, had I said to everyone, "OK, let's all eat first, then we can begin our conversation", that would have bothered some who viewed the meal as a complete experience, mixing food and conversation together. They valued the opportunity to do both at the same time.

Thinking back to this quote, and thinking about my back yard, I'm glad flowers all bloom at different times. This means that my yards is constantly changing and that when one flower fades, another one blooms.

In the same way, I'm glad that as people we all have a different pace, but I also realize that I need to become more aware of that, and instead of focusing on MY PACE, I need to bring other people's pace into consideration and not assume they will always move with me.

What would your pace be at that breakfast table: Eat first, then talk? Eat and talk at the same time? Talk and then eat?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Do things at your own pace. Life's not a race." Unknown

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

September is here, and if you're like me, it came with a bit of SHOCK. How can it be September? I've been thinking about the idea of PACE. Back a couple of months ago, I spent some time on RHYTHM, and I realize that PACE is different. I'm going to dive into it this month. Join me...

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

The quote above has been spoken and shared by many people from many different contexts, and it's simply a reminder that each of us need to set our own pace. We're told that "life's not a race", but I'm not sure any of us really believe that.

We live our lives running from one thing to the next, and while we've identified some RHYTHM to our lives, we haven't clarified the PACE.

You see, they're different.

Rhythm can be defined as a "flow" of events, patterns or events, that come and go at various speeds.

PACE on the other hand is the "speed" at which these things unfold. Pace defines the speed and the intensity that I move through.

PACE and RHYTHM are connected, but they are different.

Here's a simple way I can illustrate it:

RHYTHM is me walking everyday. Typically about 6 miles, but walking is a part of the rhythm of my life, and when I don't move everyday, it affects other aspects of my life, because while I'm walking, I'm doing other things that are really important: listening, praying, thinking, quiet.

PACE is the intensity that I walk. I walk at a comfortable pace of about 16 minutes for one mile. At this pace, I'm able to do the things that are most important, again: listening, praying, thinking, quiet.

When I increase my walking pace just a little bit to a 13 or 14 minute mile, I feel a difference. I'm breathing differently, I'm not able to think as clearly, and I then realize that I'm focused on the speed at which I'm walking.

I know there are people who can do this, while walking or running, but I've found for me it doesn't work.

The RHYTHM for me is movement, it's getting out on a trail or on a long walk, and it's something I fight for and work form. I need this rhythm in my life because of the value it brings me.

Having a fast PACE isn't important to me. I'm not trying to race anybody, and it's not just about getting a certain distance in every day.

BUT....

This is why PACE messes up RHYTHMS. When we're running from one thing to the next, when we're living at an unsustainable pace, it affects everything. Defining a healthy pace is really important.

Thus the quote: "Do things at your own pace." What's your PACE look like? What has it become?