How’s your timing? Are you early, late, or right on time? How does it feel when you get it just right?

High on the list of assumptions to avoid is the thought that you have more time. Yet, the irony is that we can’t help but make that exact assumption continuously if we are to function in the real world.

You’re here now, in this moment, so it’s only logical that you’ll be here in the next. History reminds us that you just never know. It’s littered with near-misses and nick-of-times.

Castaneda’s mythic mentor don Juan used to talk about seizing ‘the cubic centimeter of chance’, always hovering nearby. It’s interesting to visualize some sort of cosmic metaphysical sugarcube available at arms length, offering a portal to opportunity.

So mind the gap. The space between the inspiration to do something and the fact of having it done can be as little as a millisecond or a lifetime in length.

Goodness knows I’ve been a contender in the procrastination Olympics. Putting things off until they disappear or become irrelevant is a practice I know all too well. It feels good when I remember not to.

Saturday night a fellow dancing near me struck up a conversation. He looked familiar like we had known each other back in the high-flying rave days of the mid-90s. We were in San Francisco where Garth was spinning records at an event marking the 30th(!) anniversary of ’20 Minutes of Disco Glory’, a hit single he produced in ’96.

“I made Garth a vinyl-weight and I’m going to give it to him when he’s done spinning.” he said. It took me a minute to understand what he was talking about. Then he said “do you want to see it?“

It turns out the guy is a professional CNC machinist now. He unwrapped the cloth and handed me a beautifully machined black shiny object with Garth‘s name etched into the top with a laser.

A vinyl-weight is something that professional DJs use to dampen the vibrations on a turning record. They’re a luxury accessory that look like a cross between a hockey puck and a gearshift knob.

Then he told the story. “I’d been thinking about making these for the DJs that had such a positive influence on me for a long time. A couple months ago, the first one I made was for Dj Dan. But before I could give it to him, it was too late.”

Dan was another DJ who made his name in the 90s. He suffered a heart attack before a gig in Las Vegas about a month ago and didn’t make it. He would’ve been in his mid-50s or so, an age when most folks think they’ve got plenty of time left.

“So that was a huge wake up call, I’m not waiting around any longer.“ he said. “These DJs changed my life and made me a better person. I’m not gonna miss the chance to let them know how much that means to me.”

Garth doesn’t play in San Francisco more than once or twice a year. This guy had driven a couple of hours to make sure his token of gratitude would be received alive and well and right on time. Garth thanked him and received it with grace once the lights were up.

I knew exactly what I was going to write about this week. When it comes to things like gratitude, appreciation, or healing an old rift, there truly is no time like the present.

Passing this on to you, have a great week!.

Much love till next Monday!!

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #677

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar