What do you think of when you hear the term 5 second rule? Do you think about eating dropped food off the ground? That is certainly my first thought. Unless a bit of food drops in mud or down an outhouse commode, it can be quickly picked up and consumed. It is as if to say no harm, no foul don’t waste this tasty morsel. The truth is, if it is something I was not enjoying I may choose not to implement the rule at all. If it is something I love, that five seconds can turn into a minute to still deem it edible.
In life we tend to make allowances for dropped food, missteps, or poor decisions. Wouldn’t it be great if we could implement the five second rules on times we acted to soon and wished we could take it back. There are times when an action is immediately going to have consequences with no going back. If you grab a three year old out of the street just in time to avoid a car it is a moment to celebrate. If you give a caller too much financial information believing they are who they say they are, it is instantly too late to protect your money. Whether a choice can be walked back or must stand as is can be difficult to live with. That is why I need to get better at thinking things through and waiting until the time is right to move forward.
Ronnie B and I are in our sixties, well on our way to seventy. It is even more important for us to pause before running into any situation now that life and our brains have slowed. Our floors are cleaner with less people in and out so we can extend the five seconds at home. But we need to be mindful of the decisions that seem like no brainers because they may take a lot more brain than we think. Recently, I have been scammed or almost scammed in innocently looking for a dog. What seemed to be a great fit turned out to be people trying to take advantage. If I can be targeted for trying to find a faithful friend, it is clear that people are out there to take advantage in other situations. My white hair and well earned wrinkles make me even more of a target if I don’t take time to wait rather than jump for instant gratification.
Five seconds should not be my go to for big decisions. Sleep on it sounds like the phrase I need to embrace. After all, tomorrow is another day and I don’t have to get caught up in this instant at my fingertip moment. It is actually good to let things buffer for a bit. It gives my mind time to catch up and move forward in a considerate way.
In Him,
Joyful
4-27-23
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