How long is 1 minute?

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Hey hello hello,

Enjoying my last weekend experiment to write in a different location than the comfort of my living room and desk,I have found myself this morning taking the boat to the city. My bag is still overloaded as I had to sort of carry the desk with me yet the fact that I had to simplify and downsize to what is the minimum necessary load, it is quite stripped to what I call “the essentials”. Mine and yours could be very different. I know many of us carry just a mini purse, all digital payments and all, luckily I am still a bit old school in some ways. Some things are better in tangible form for me.

I wanted to share today something really more of a challenge, more of an invitation to a brief introspection through some playful experiments I would say.

I have been asked few months back while applying for a course online to also provide a short video of 2min. It could have been less but for sure no more.

The beauty of this was that their platform was already geared to that and used an application where you could record live your video and surprise, surprise, cut you off sharp at 2 minutes!

I have read many instructions or I have given many instructions before - and I have felt confident enough to succeed at this process. At the end of the day, 2 minutes might be even very very long in some situations ( try for example a yin yoga pose in a position you might not enjoy much, or even meditation for beginners). Everything might sound as a breeze until it teaches you something.

Of course, while the recording was live I did have to prepare my application. Quite simple instructions were provided- tell us more about why you have been drawn to this course, some background info,and what do you want to achieve. Broad instructions like this that in my mind were also clear. I set up diligently at my desk and I wrote a draft of two pages. Making sure I focus on key highlight points and it brings common sense to the table. The process was totally enjoyable. I have enjoyed it thoroughly.

All set, right mind set, right preparation, right motivation.

Start the app - play ”record” button.

I bet you also have anticipated with me the nervousness of the moment during my motivated speech when I saw the timer showing- 20 seconds left and “cut”! I was not even in the middle of my speech. Let alone transmitting any values, essential focused highlights.

And, I can tell you,at the same time, I have felt a jolt and a kick in my brain to take up on this challenge again and again.

Went back to the writing board, deleted too many adjectives, sentences twists, and well- seemed ok .Proceed for “record” again.

Ok- now I covered 75% of my intended message and nowhere near to hit a proper 2 minute reasonable delivery. It was ridiculous, hillarious, I was making fun of myself and start anew. I was literally in competition with a timer.

How hard how hard it is to write for top level! Right- we all know that from our work.

Brief and perfect message delivery. Nothing different than delivering a message to a kid. Everyone uses now this comparisons like”imagine that you have to explain this to a kid or to your grandmother”. Should be as simple and as comprehensible as that.

Perhaps Apple did it with their intuitive interface and with tons of resources and engineers and geniuses behind.

Here I am alone in my own bubble, sounding too serious, and delivering tooo many words. 2 minutes simple could not bear all that non-sense.

It was one of my favourite experiments. I have managed to understand how the timer works, knew when to expect the little warning of “30 seconds left” , and aim for closure in a beautiful way. Even say thank you and good bye.

What a dream it has been. Just when I thought I have mastered the process and now I can and I will deliver what I mean to say and all will have a huge impact- wouldn’t you say that the app was set to a maximum limit( no warning on that) and during my perhaps 5th trial - I have received the beautiful message “ the recording has been received, no further application possible” . The end!

Lol - I am not sure even that I have that particular recording.

Some of the previous recordings were natural ,some lesser so, precisely because I was against this timer friend and not 100% in my element. I bet we all had similar energies and nervousness transpiring through these videos.

Please try it - I am inviting you here and totally encourage you to write something about yourself, then try to express it in this short or very very long two minutes.

There are many ways to look at it. And this is your prize.

Short and sweet today. My boat has arrived at destination.

Stay well, hydrated, stretch, talk to your plants and feed them…. Hug!

See you soon,

Much love …..