Tidsoptimist: A Time Optimist, One Who’s Habitually Late Thinking They Have Plenty of Time - Swedish

On understanding latecomers, the value of time, slow living vs. a fast and furious life, and the ultimate destination, mindfulness

The trouble is, you think you have time.

From Buddha's Little Instruction Book, by Jack Kornfield

Another word that has touched my heart. I fell in love with it because it's a term expressing optimism, and it also manages to depict a circumstance that I encounter pretty frequently with minimal effort.

Tidsoptimist refers to someone who is optimistic about time, that is, someone who assumes that time will pass slowly enough, and who is always late, even when they do not intend to be.

I admit that I am a genuine tidsoptimist. I am neither proud of it nor do I regret. This is just the way I am.

Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash

I'm sure it seems ridiculous to people who are always on time. They may be puzzled as to why such a name was coined for such a circumstance and why anyone would spend time and effort contemplating it. But such people exist, such as myself.

I am not someone who enjoys being late everywhere. In reality, I dislike keeping people waiting, but honestly, my punctual arrivals don't happen very often. My friends and even my poor husband can tell you some humorous tales.

So, why am I usually late? I am always optimistic about the preparations I have to make to get somewhere and the time I have to spend on the way. I feel as if there will never be any traffic on the way, as if I will never come across a neighbor and have a quick chat, as if the elevator is waiting for me to arrive, and as if the world will do everything in its power to make sure I reach my meeting point as soon as possible.

Does that sound silly? I have to say that tidsoptimists are not stupid people; I'm not stupid myself, but I can be very unrealistic when it comes to calculating and estimating time. I want to be on time, neither too early nor too late. But such perfect timing is often not possible in our world.

Anyway, I found a way to prevent my friends and colleagues from having to wait for me. I set my time a little earlier. Assume my meeting is at 14 p.m. Then, I put it in my schedule as beginning at 13:45, as if it were fifteen minutes earlier. Then, naturally, I prepare earlier and sometimes arrive earlier than the other party.

〰️

In general, Swedish society is highly punctual; there aren't many timeliness issues. Maybe that's why they coined this term to describe people who are usually late. I don't believe there is a corresponding word in southern hemisphere societies, for example; I would be astonished if there is, but it could exist in German, for example. If you know such a word having similar meaning, please let me know in the comments, I’m curious.

The concept of time has various meanings in different societies. Time is a measure that is quickly spent in the United States or Europe, yet on a hot summer day in the Mediterranean, no one will do anything in a hurry. Life is taken leisurely, and every minute is appreciated there. There are no goals to chase because the closest thing to a goal is an evening dinner with friends in the garden.

There are times when you should be in a hurry, and other times when you should live like a turtle. It's important to distinguish between the two.

Notes & Reads:

As we’re talking about time, I preferred to choose some books about appreciating its value, rather than the tricks of being punctual or productivity.

I'm currently reading Marshall Goldsmith's The Earned Life. It is accompanying be during my sleep preparation time, as reading is the best habit for me to prepare my mind for a decent sleep, and nighttime reading is the perfect time for me to absorb the content of books.

Goldsmith is an executive coach who works with well-known and successful CEOs in the United States. He also describes himself as a "philosophical Buddhist” who applies Buddhist philosophy in business. He shares his experience-based counsel on avoiding a regretful existence in The Earned Life. I really liked the book and would recommend it to you.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is an outstanding book that reminds us, perhaps more than anything else, of the value of time and life. Morrie is Albom’s collage professor and in his final days due to ALS, a neurodegenerative disease. The book chronicles their Tuesday gathering and conversations at Morrie's house until his death. It's packed with knowledge and teachings on how to live a better life.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by legendary Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is an initial step or a welcome to mindfullness. I really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in mindfulness, as well as the other two books I mentioned.

Have a wonderful week and weekend.

Till next week,

— Gulsun

---

If you enjoyed the post, you can support WoW by sharing it or subscribing to receive weekly newsletters. You can also simply click the heart which shows your enjoyment, and that would mean a lot to me.