Don’t Just Do Something—

Sit there!

Advice my therapist long ago finally instilled into me, who was inclined to behave, especially in times of crisis, like Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock‘s hero, who flung himself out of the door, flung himself on his horse, and rode madly off in all directions.

We live in an age of hurry-up, of 24/7 for every activity imaginable, of being connected constantly. Email isn’t fast enough, we need instant chat. I want it — now! Whatever it is. Now!

But not everyone, and not always. Here is a story for you, told by traveler and writer Bruce Chatwin:

A white explorer in Africa, anxious to press ahead with his journey, paid his porters for a series of forced marches. But they, almost within reach of their destination, set down their bundles and refused to budge. No amount of extra payment would convince them otherwise. They said they had to wait for their souls to catch up.