COLUMN: Give the gift of slack
I know the economy, world order and smooth familial relations require that we buy lots of stuff in December, but why not give the gift everybody needs, the one no home should be without. Give the gift everybody asks for. Give the gift of slack.
It’s proactive, empowering, biodegradable, transferable, nonpartisan, user friendly, environmentally friendly, portable, needs no wrapping, nobody has enough and no assembly is required.
The simplicity movement is all well and good, but it still centers on stuff more than people. Besides, given our competitive nature, I predict simplicity will just be another thing people start fighting about.
“No really I’m way more simplified than you.”
“Oh yeah, I’m so simplified homeless people try to give me money.”
It’s the lack of slack that makes ulcer medication and Prozac the two top-selling drugs in the United States. It’s the lack of slack that drives people to abusive use of alcohol, drugs and chocolate chip cookies. It’s the lack of slack that makes us drive around with those lemon-sucking looking faces during the Christmas rush.
I know what you’re saying. “Christmas is too busy, I don’t have time for slack – What if someone sends me a gift and I don’t send them one? What if I left someone off the Christmas card list? What if the tree catches fire? What if the kids fight over their presents? What if I eat too much over the holidays? What if we get snowed in? What if the cheese ball gets moldy? Is that last year’s or this year’s fruit cake? What if uncle Fred leaves his teeth on the table again?
“What if?’s” are the road blocks of slack. Give “what if?’s” to your enemies, save the slack for those who truly deserve it. For instance
Fast food workers They deserve a break today. If you don’t have time to wait five minutes, you probably don’t have time to eat either.
Postal employees – I mean really, out of all the thousands of pieces of mail you’ve been involved with in your life, how many of them have been lost by the post office? You probably lose your own keys more often than the post office loses mail. On balance, there are lots of federal employees who make more money and move slower than postal workers. And besides, now they are risking their lives just by sorting mail.
Newspaper delivery kids – So the paper lands in the bushes once in awhile. NFL quarterbacks make millions of dollars and they only hit their target about 55 percent of the time.
Trash collectors – If life were fair, they would make more than elected officials. Think about it. If Orrin Hatch doesn’t do his job for a month, you hardly notice it. If your trash doesn’t get collected for a month, you’ve got a personal crisis.
Like charity, slack begins at home. Instate a Slack Day in your house. Schedule a day of no appointments and start by taking your watches off and unplugging the clocks. Really – try it. You’ll go crazy for the first couple hours, but it is a freeing experience. You can go wild. You can order a pizza in the morning or drink a beer before noon. You won’t even know it.
An added benefit is that it will drive your slack-deprived friends insane when you say “Sorry, I’d like to come over at six, but I don’t have a clock or a watch. Could you tell where the moon will be at that hour?”
You’ll soon find if you give slack, you will get slack in return. The kids at the fast food chow houses may actually say “have a nice day” and mean it. Your relatives might show up on time. Your boss might sprout a sense of humor. Your spouse might even overlook some of your bad habits.
I know it will take practice for those of you who live your life by meticulously avoiding relaxation and frivolity. Here is a slack lexicon to help get you in the mood
•Take your time, I’m not in a hurry.
•Maybe next year.
•You’re right, I’m not holier than thou.
•If you get around to it.
•If not this green light, maybe the next one.
•Driving slower is safer anyway.
•So, come here often? (Suitable ice breaker for all waiting in line circumstances).
•Cleanliness is no where near godliness.
I’m not completely opposed to the full capitalistic regalia of Christmas, as long as you realize the cavernous gap that separates what we “want” and what we “need.” We need something with a little more compassion – something that helps soothe our fragile, bruised souls – what we really need is a big slice of slack.