Watches, calendars, and plans, oh my.
Plans are generally good. Being on time for important events is certainly good. Forward thinking is crucial for progress.
But I think our society has gone too far.
Now with the hammer that technology gives us to coordinate much more accurately and intensely, everything's looking like a nail. Time has become an obstacle for us to conquer, an excuse to avoid taking action, and a subtle obsession that keeps us from living in the moment.
I used to wear a watch every day of my life. It seemed absurd not to have one. When I finally cut the cord, I still checked my cell phone clock constantly.
Some of my friends (whom I love dearly and of whom, one is surely giving me the eye of death right now) love to plan parties and events. I'm glad for that and I of course occasionally plan things as well. I certainly understand how planning can be fun. I don't even terribly mind the barrage of coordination emails that ensue. What bothers me is two things. First is that, to some extent, we have the lost the ability to do things without a plan or timeline. There's a tension in the air when people are being hurried for no particular reason — usually for events that have no specific time constraints. The other is that sometimes we spend so much time discussing the plan's minute details that we're unable to enjoy the moment we're in. This promotes the idea of thinking of life as a series of gaps punctuated by excitement, which to me, is a less enjoyable way to live.
