Take It Slow

Life’s Lessons at the Pump

Born and bred in South Africa, I moved to Ireland the year before I turned 60. I spent four glorious years there before making my way to the USA - where, as the Irish would say, I'll get to lay down me head.

Every country has taught me something, but the most important lesson remains the same: keep an open mind. Stay curious. Approach everything as if I were a beginner, as if I knew nothing, and then learn as much as I can.

This morning, I had a lekker chuckle thinking about the words and ways I’ve used in South Africa, then Ireland, and now here in Texas.

In South Africa, when I needed fuel, I went to the ga-raach to put petrol in my car. And of course, silent rr’s - proper Queen’s English, as we were taught.
In Ireland, I went to the gêa-rrich to put diesel in me cê-arrr, with the appropriate rolling of the rr’s.
Now, in the USA, I go to the gas station, fill up my vee-hi-cle with gas (which, let’s be honest, is a confusing name for something that’s actually a liquid). Their rr’s has a different roll to it, and I’m am on a roll with it after ten months here.

Back home in SA, petrol stations had attendants at the ready - checking oil and water, pumping fuel, and even washing your windscreen while you stayed seated like royalty.
In Ireland, I had to pump my own diesel - a new experience, but one I quickly enjoyed.
Here in the USA, it’s all self-service, and you pay at the pump. Easy, right?

Well, almost.

Since I only put in $20 at a time, I have to walk into the little shop to pay first. This morning, I pulled up, unscrewed the cap, put the pump in, and headed inside. But - surprise! The cashier couldn't process my payment while the pump was still in the car. So, back I went, put the pump back, returned inside, and finally paid.

Back at the car, I tried to pump, but nothing happened. I pulled, pressed, and stared at the machine in confusion. Back into the shop I went.

The cashier came out, took one look, and pointed at a little screen I had completely missed. It was waiting for me to accept a 10-cent discount. A simple aye or nay - but in my rush, I hadn’t even seen it.

Lesson learned.

I told him, "You're never too old to learn something new!"

But this experience made me think. How often do we focus so hard on one thing that we miss everything else? I was so fixated on getting the pump ready that I overlooked the screen. And because I didn’t expect it to be there, I didn’t look for it.

And then there was the real culprit: I was in a bit of a hurry, on my way to meet a client, and didn’t want to be late.

Which brings me to one of the ten guiding principles of Ikigai—the Japanese philosophy of purpose and meaning in life:

Take it slow.

The Japanese believe that rushing through life reduces its quality. The more you hurry, the less time you truly have. When you leave urgency behind, life and time take on new meaning.

When we rush, we lose control. We miss details. We run back and forth between gas pumps and little shops. But when we slow down, we become more mindful. We notice the things hiding in plain sight.

As the old saying goes, “Walk slowly, and you’ll go far.”

So today, take a deep breath. Move a little slower. You’ll still get where you need to be - just with fewer trips back and forth.