Pause

I’ve decided that I enjoy pauses.

Most people think pauses are bad things. Awkward. A momentary time of mourning, or reflection of something lost. Sometimes, a prelude to some sort of plangent wailing.

But those aren’t pauses.

Those are silences. That’s different.

I’m talking about pauses. Those little moments of reflection that happen at various points of your day…lots of various points if the day in question happens to be a good one.

A good pause lets you take in the moment you find yourself in. It helps you realize, not only that you’re appreciating that moment, but why. A good pause allows you to catch up with the times that you find yourself in. It’s the metaphysical equivalent to synchronizing your watch.

I can always tell when I’m watching a good movie by the number of times I press “pause” on the DVD player. I always know that I’m reading a good book by the number of times I stop reading and look out the window, thinking about what I’ve just read. Trying to store it in my brain. Hoping that, at the right moment in the future, I’ll be able to call it back up.

I know that not everyone feels this way. Some people seem afraid of pauses. They try to fill in the gaps with useless chatter. They don’t want to take the time to think, because they’re afraid of what they’re brain might tell them.

I feel really sorry for these people. They’re missing out on some really great pauses. And they’re ruining those pauses for other people as well.

Reader, I hope that you have lots and lots of pauses today. I hope you see something that makes you stop and marvel at how big and crazy this world really is. I hope you hear a song that halts you in mid-step and takes you back to a happy time in your life. I hope you get an idea that forces you to a standstill, truly appreciating all those wonderful things that buzz around in your head.

I wish you at least one very pregnant, very profound pause today. And the presence to appreciate it, when it comes by.



Jim Out.