New Age Time

Time...we all have the same amount of it per day. We all value it, each in our own way. Like many other things we value in life, we don't extrapolate that value out to other people. We don't value another's time the way we do our own. And yet, if someone doesn't value our time...boy, can we get pissy! In the words of Inigo Montoya, "Let me 'splain..."

Recently we had a class at EBN. It was a topic that had been requested by many people over the preceding months and was taught by a well-known, local teacher. We had just enough folks sign up for the class in order to make it worth the instructor's time, 4 people. Come class time there was 1 person in class. 1 person called 90 minutes before class to cancel citing confusion about the date of class, another had apparently texted me the day prior and another I just never heard from even though I called. The instructor, seeing as how she was already there with her 1 student, graciously stayed and taught the class in its entirety. I wish I could say that this was a rare happening, unfortunately it is not.

Now let me deconstruct this situation. Any class at EBN2 (and most other places, I believe) have a minimum attendance requirement. Most classes thrive on a moderate number of students as it provides for a variety of interactions between students and teacher as well as students and students. Differing perspectives generate interesting questions. Everybody wins from a well-rounded class. If there are too few students then it becomes more like tutoring or a therapy session. Tutoring and/or therapy ain't cheap, and most times, this is not the teacher's area of expertise - this one-on-one scenario. So you get why more students is the desirable environment. Renting space for classes also ain't cheap. The instructor pays for the space and the person they pay, pays for the space. In this case, the instructor would (in theory) pay a portion of the class fee to EBN2. EBN2 in turn pays monthly rent. No students, no class. No class, no rent. No rent, no EBN2. You with me? The other side to this coin (since we're talking money right now...time is money as they say) is that when a situation like the one described above occurs, the instructor may decide, "Fuck this shit, I'm never coming back here," or some variation of that. Future potential students miss out. Perhaps the instructor laments her situation to another instructor friend who subsequently decides, "Well fuck that, I'm never having a class there either." And as the old 70's shampoo commercial went, "and they tell 2 friends and so on and so on and so on..." ad infinitum.

Moving on. There was a time, if no place else than my imagination, where a person's word was their bond. That means if a commitment was made it was kept, short of bleeding profusely or being on fire. There was a time, if no place else than on tv, where people respected one another in all ways. "You are just as valuable and important as I am," that sort of thing. All you have to do is watch any televised U.S. political event to see that is no longer the case. We excuse away our behavior, we break commitments, we don't follow through, we don't honor our word. In the microcosm that is the originally cited example all parties involved are nice people. No axe murderers (that I'm aware of) in the bunch. A kind group of folks, I'd say. And yet, 75% of them completely fucked the instructor and EBN2 out of their reasonable expectations of time and money. If the same behaviors had been presented at a doctor's office, for example, that 75% would be getting a bill for the doctor's wasted time and would be on a list of those to be watched for recurring last minute cancellations (leading to eventual refusal of service.) And I'm not saying that those 3 folks did what they did maliciously, as I said they are nice people. I'm sure that to them, their reasoning and behavior was within the acceptable and legitimate range. Perhaps we would all say that their reasons were acceptable and legitimate. And remember, I know these people, I like them. I'm not picking on them or suggesting we burn crosses in their yards. They are just the latest example of an on-going issue. Let me quickly move toward my real rant (oh god, there's more???)

Small business, especially in the esoteric/healing/new age type genres depend almost exclusively on the patronage of others. I'm talking retail (EBN, Kindred Spirits), physical fitness (yoga, tai chi), wellness (energy workers, accupuncture), teachers (Joe Weaver, Dale & Jeanne Stacy) as a few examples, cannot continue to offer their services if not supported heartily by their communities. Without all these life-affirming, growth-oriented opportunities we are left with HMOs, Walmart and "No Child Left Behind" public education. It's not like there's a metaphysial trust fund supporting these alternative businesses (see gratuitous photo). Most times, these service-oriented businesses and their owners work 12-16 hours per day/ 7 days a week, pay twice as much tax as the ordinary taxpayer, put up with disgruntled muggle assholes or arrogant woo-woos (for which their is NEVER enough money) and take less time for personal vacations, classes, retreats, etc than most of their clientele. I think it's safe to say that these small business folks love what they do and the benefits well outweigh any of the bullshit I just listed. My point here is that service-oriented small business is no walk in the park and if not supported, it will be mowed down for a mega-mall.

So, in conclusion (I can just hear you..."thank fucking god!") think about when you give your word and when you don't keep it. I'm not all innocent in this category either, I have blown people off in the past. It's just that for some time now I have worked to be mindful of my word, mindful of what my limits are so that I don't over-commit and mindful that what I do has an impact on others that I cannot possibly be aware of. I know I still fuck up from time to time. I was fortunate enough to have someone raise this issue with me long ago. Now I'm just paying it forward. (I think I just pulled an Alanis Morisette "Isn't It Ironic".) Love you, mean it, no hate mail!