I know I’m not British. I know my time studying/interning in London wasn’t all that lengthy. And I still can’t do a good British accent. But none of that has sidetracked my love for all things British.** And thus, I get a huge kick out of @SoVeryBritish on Twitter.
And this tweet last month totally had me giggling:
Panicking in a sandwich shop and allowing a distressingly bizarre combination of fillings to occur
— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) December 11, 2013
First, the tweet totally made me crave a Pret A Manger sandwich.
And then it made me think of the time I passed out in a Subway restaurant.
I was a teenager on a youth group trip…we were somewhere in Colorado or Utah or something, headed for Salt Lake City. I was wearing my Karl Malone jersey. (Irrelevant detail, but I like to find excuses to talk about Karl Malone.)
And I was right in the middle of ordering my sandwich when I fainted. Like…completely passed out, knocked into the person behind me who knocked into the person behind him.
Pret A Manger is in the States now. Maybe it’s been here forever, but I live in Iowa, so I’m often behind. But this is the one in Chicago. I’m hungry.
So I’m told, anyway. I don’t really remember the domino moment because I was, well, unconscious on the floor.
Anyway, the tweet brought that incident to mind because later, after I was finished unintentionally making a spectacle of myself in front of the whole place, I unwrapped the sandwich someone had apparently finished ordering for me, took a bite, gasped and said something like, “FWAAAPH?!” Which was mouth-full speak for “WHAT?!”
Whatever was in the sandwich was soooo not what I’d normally order. I’m a veggies and minimal meat girl when it comes to subs. This sandwich had like fifty kinds of meat in it. Maybe the person making the sandwich thought I’d passed out due to anemia or something, I don’t know.
All I know was, when I wasn’t paying attention, I ended up with such a meat-packed sandwich it could’ve satisfied a strapping lumberjack.
And in the weird game of hopscotch that is often my mental state, remembering that sandwich made me think about life. And about how, so often when I’m not paying attention, I end up with a figurative sandwich that is not-so-figuratively full of all-too-literal stuff. Commitments and tasks and things, lots of things, some of which land in my life without me realizing it as I rush along.
We’re busy people, most of us. We either get good at juggling and balancing or we fall apart—let people down, renege on responsibilities, and just plain forget stuff no matter how Google calendar-ized we try to be.
And you know, I don’t think busy is necessarily bad. BUT thinking about this made me realize how my own busyness could lessen if I’d just be a little more aware of the things I’m packing in. A little more intentional in my decisions.
I don’t want to wake up one day with the same kind of sandwich shock I had that day in Subway, asking myself how in the world I let that and that and that take center spot in my life instead of the things that matter most: relationships…faith…pursuing the things I feel God is putting in front of me, not just what society or culture or even other people expect of me.
It’s about being aware, isn’t it?
…not just prioritizing, but paying attention to the rhythm of everyday life.
…making intentional choices rather than flitting from to-do to to-do.
…taking time, now and then, to get a pulse on life.
…and seeing, really seeing, the people I’m interacting with each day.
I want to live a conscious life.
So here’s a question for you: Do you ever feel like your life got full, maybe too full, when you weren’t paying attention? How do you make sure your life is packed with the right things?
*****
*I mean Subway the restaurant, not a train. ALTHOUGH…one time on the Underground in London the train jerked and I wasn’t hanging on to anything so I totally fell over backwards, which isn’t the same as fainting, but I still want to tell the story anyway because it has such a great ending. So I totally fell over and this tall British guy (who I’ve decided might have been pre-famous Benedict Cumberbatch) dropped his briefcase in order to catch me. He righted me, then goes, “You all right, love?” I’m telling you, it could’ve been a moment in a movie. Sadly, none of my friends were there to see it…only a bunch of strangers on a train who were probably all thinking, “Stupid American doesn’t know to hang on.” But I don’t care. It was awesome.
**Okay, not quite all. I still think marmalade is gross.
Comments 20
Oh my word, girl! I think you have the funniest life ever! And while I loved your Subway (restaurant) story and the serious thoughts that followed, I ADORED the tube story. Yes, just like something out of a movie! I, too, am quite the anglophile, so I better hop over to twitter and follow So Very British! 🙂
Thanks for making me smile this morning. And think about being intentional, too.
Author
I’m glad you liked the tube story. I still remember walking into Vandon House, which is the hotel-ish type place I lived while there, and telling everyone that story. Their response was something like: “You fell over in the tube? And you think that’s cool?” And I was like, “You’re not hearing the second part. I fell backwards into a British guy’s arms!” 🙂
And he called you “love” in that cute way they do! 🙂
Author
Yeaahhhh he did. It was kind of the best. 🙂
Loved this, Melissa! I have found myself in a meat-filled-sandwiched life before because I wasn’t intentional. I’ve learned to take a breath before “yes” comes out of my mouth and that “no” isn’t a swear word;) I can still get too busy at times, but I usually realize it sooner and redirect.
Great, great post. Ohhh…especially the ending bit you tacked on. Put it in a book, accent and all plz:) LOL
Author
I will very much try to work it into a book sometime.
And yes, “no” is so not a swear word. I think for me, I’m realizing it’s not being busy that’s a problem…if I’ve made the choice to commit to things and it happens to mean I’ve got a full plate, well okay. But if I’m just sort of dazedly hurrying through my days and there’s no intention behind the busyness, then I’m just existing…and probably missing out.
Thanks, MTagg, I needed this today.
Author
You’re welcome, Wendy.
Okay, there’s just too much here to love! 🙂
Love how you relate our lives to lumberjack lunches. Nice, which also invokes the feeling of flannel and I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose–you just ooze flannel! lol
Today on the way to school I said something in a silly tone and Myles said, “Your British accent isn’t at all good.”
“I’m not trying to be British, I’m just being silly. Big difference between British and silly.”
He cracked me up when he said, “Is there?” lol
And I totally swooned over the story about falling into the Brit on the train. Sigh!
Author
LOL, I DO ooze flannel. I can’t help it. I love it so much. I didn’t even intend to stick in something flannel-related in this post. The lumberjack reference just happened. Apparently my flannel love shows through even subconsciously.
Also, your Myles stories are always so awesome.
Yes, yes, and yes, I have. And I hate that. I hate it even more when I try to think of something to cut from my life…and come up with diddly squat. Yeah I said it. Diddly squat.
But ultimately, refocusing on God and asking him to redirect my priorities is the only way to go.
Author
Ha, diddly squat. Made me laugh, Linz. 🙂
Oh, my! Melissa, I CAN relate a wee tad, as I’ve done my share of fainting. It hasn’t happened in awhile, and it usually only happens if I’m under the weather. (Guess it’s my body’s natural reaction or something.)
The last place I fainted was in the middle of the canned good aisle at the grocery store. Thankfully, my husband was with me!
On to your question–yep, I do feel like life can get too packed with stuff. To lesson the stress, I make lists. On sticky notes, notepads, my white board. And I cross off things as I finish them. I’m also intentional with my time and what I commit to, which is key! 🙂
Author
Oh gosh, fainting in a grocery store. Glad your husband was there. We never really figured out why I fainted that day in Subway. I wasn’t sick or anything…sorta wondered if it was the altitude.
Now I know why you write Rom/Com. Your life is a romantic comedy. 🙂 Really needed this light-hearted look at life today. Right now my life is on overload. lol If I live through February it will be a miracle!
Author
Haha, Pat, but if my life was a TRUE rom-com, I’d probably generally have much better hair and better style. 🙂
You are on the fast-track to a busy and exciting season, that’s for sure. Can’t wait for your book to release!
I’ve always been a multi-tasker. So, I tend to overload by default. But the real freaking out comes from my inability to see how everything’s going to come together. If I’d just take things one at a time, without getting ahead of myself, I’d be fine. It’s hard to live in the moment, though, isn’t it? God and I are working on the long-term growth plan of helping me overcome this 😉
Author
Yep, definitely hard to live in the moment. That’s actually something I’ve thought a lot about at the beginning of this year…I feel like I’m probably heading into my busiest year ever. And yet, I don’t want to rush through deadlines and to-dos and miss out on what’s happening around me and in me. So I’m right there with you in working on that. 🙂
Melissa, you should totally write your subway train experience into one of your stories! Swoon worthy!
Author
If I ever write a book set in London, which I probably should just so I’d have an excuse to go back, I’ll try to work that scene in for sure.