The Speed of Light: Fast OR Slow?

Which one are you more like?

You are a Tortoise if you:
Phone your friends to make arrangements to get together.
Find your best creative solutions after you’ve slept on it.
Rely on gestures to describe something that’s too tough for words alone.
Are a member of the “Slow Movement”.
Only turn the TV on to watch educational shows and the news.
Don’t own a cell phone.
Turn off your Black Berry when you leave work.
Are more like an elder.

You are a Hare if you:
Read “Fast Company Magazine”.
Text or instant message.
Read “Blink” and think without thinking.
Let your left brain bully your right brain.
Use a PVR.
Have call waiting.
Keep a cell phone or Black Berry tied to your hip.
Are more like a kid.

Here’s a thought, it may be that hares are the early adapters, front runners even mavericks. It also may be that hares are shallow, superficial, forgettable, meaningless. The fast pace can detract from serious one on one relationships that demand time, continuity of attention and commitment. We’re close to moving 186,000 miles per second or about 300,000 kilometers per second (the speed of light) and where does that leave us?

How about those tortoises? Maybe they connect through their intuition, are more subjective, holistic. Perhaps they rely on their right brain, take their time building relationships and trust, nurture and reflect on situations and solutions. Walking gives a person a different perspective than flying a jet. When was the last time you walked?

Not so fast…or slow. We’re quick to peg things as opposites. Brain based theory discusses the connections between the two sides of the brain and I’d suggest that there’s much more synchronicity between fast and slow as well. The two extremes seem far apart, however, the relationship is relevant to the situation, scope and time. Speed or idleness is linked with our existence, our perceptions and our lifestyles. So here are my questions for the week:

1. If fast and slow weren’t antonyms how could we link their relationship?
2. If we valued slow over fast what would change?
3. What impact does fast and slow, left brain and right brain, have on your lifestyle at the moment?
4. What if there were no opposites in our vocabulary? How would that change the way we think and act?

And by the way in 1999, a team of scientists led by Lene Hau were able to slow the speed of a light pulse to about 17 metres per second and in 2001, they were able to momentarily stop a beam. Hmmm…