Un-homed But Not Unhinged: Timing is Everything

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It is true that timing affects many things. But all things considered I don’t really know what that phrase means. I know the basic meaning of course, but are we looking at things relatively or from some deep metaphysical sense of the phrase?

Obviously my business timing was off with a previous business. In that case we were too far ahead of the curve. Our product was unique and there was a growing demand. However, to use a surf analogy, we were paddling to catch a wave far too early. By the time the actual wave came up on us we were too exhausted from paddling to actually catch it and instead got slammed on the reef. Oh well.

And then again my timing has been off in several areas of my personal life. But that isn’t much to share about here. Suffice to say that several shrugs of the shoulders and shakes of the head have happened.

Everyone will tell you something to the effect of, “it will happen when the time is right.” Again, what does that actually mean? Does that mean its fate? Is this just some crazy karma playing out? Is someone dealing me a hand of crummy cards in direct opposition to my skill set? Who can figure these things out?

I am a very accepting person and the recent struggles have been a powerful test of that resolve. Though I can be faulted for being restless I feel a comfortable handle on the notion of waiting for the natural fruition of things. What I’m leery of how easy it is to slip into a pattern of feeling like things go well because I’ve paid the dues and put the time in, whereas when things go badly it’s somehow just not the right time. I think you get into more trouble because of false assumptions about your role in things unfolding.

In my honest opinion the shorter you look on a timeline of your life there are certain to be successes directly out of your intended actions. But if you look a longer scope of things you see just how little control you truly have over circumstance. And that is what gets people frightened. But that’s just the way things are. So when you might ask the classic question: “Is the glass half full or half empty?” I just see it as half. And then deal with the reality of things that moment.

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About the Author

  • Joe Bright
    Joe Bright
    Joe Bright is a graduate of Iolani School and went on to study art at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City, and later Chinese medicine at The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. Joe currently runs a small acupuncture clinic, Kama’aina Acupuncture in Kapahulu as the first dedicated low-cost “community acupuncture” clinic in Honolulu. Joe has a varied background that has included working as a bicycle mechanic, freelance artist, teaching calligraphy and Tai Chi, a nanny, and even a CEO of a small entrepreneurial company. He continues to create art, even having work recently appear at the Honolulu Academy of Arts as well the Bishop Museum. He also continues with entrepreneurial projects when possible and serves on the Board of Directors for a local Buddhist meditation organization, Vipassana Hawai’i.
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