Monday, October 12, 2009

QT

by Pat Antonopoulos

What Keeps Me Awake At Night is the title of a chapter in our book. This blog probably qualifies as a revisit-ramble. Last night was a 1:32 AM to 4:58 AM time of fractured sleep. Made perfect sense to get up, inhale some coffee and work on a blog. Trouble is that a daily blog does tax my brain and three hours and 32 minutes of mental blogging does not guarantee a coherent piece of writing. But then I have never been known for, or even guaranteed, coherent blogs. Rambling. Just might be my travel of choice.

One of my tangents was focused on how we make decisions as to when it is time to quit...accept and move on...be at peace with...quit.

"Quittin' Time"
was a beer promoted by a convenience store. The advertising pictured hard working folks earning that six-pack to ease the day...a brew to move away from the stress and into the calm.

Strictly on the QT.
Isn't that an old expression that means something like quiet tip? Probably a bit of gossip that was meant to be passed on but had to maintain the escape clause for the whisperer. And, as with most gossip, a way to promote self. Odd how so much of gossip is prefaced with, "Bless her heart, she just...."
As if blessing her heart cleanses our spite.

"Quick Trip"
stores still around? Might be the same a convenience store that sold the brew. Fill the tank, grab the milk, a pack of M & M's and maybe a lottery ticket and move on...in and out...get what is needed and out the door.

My favorite QT is quiet time...even if it does come in the dark and fracture that sleep. More often than not, quiet time is a time of balance and perspective. A ramble though all the reasons to justify quitting leads to the same destination.
Don't.
Don't quit.
Don't quit on a relationship...or a project...or a belief...or whatever gritty bit of irritation is wearing at the moment. Little is accomplished by a quick trip or a premature quitting time. Nothing is accomplished by mean-spirited QT exchanges.
Sorry to be corny, but the pearl only grows from the grit and irritation. And wasn't it Hemingway who used Aristotle's thought and wrote about healing to strength from the broken places?

No comments: