Zyl: I have always wondered how you look/stay calm almost all the time. During those days that I was working with you, never had I seen you look upset/mad.

Zoë: How can you live an unhurried life?

Thank you Zyl and Zoë, for kicking us off. (Despite appearances no, I’m not just going in reverse alphabetical order with the questions.)

And thank you everyone who sent through a question – I’m really enjoying them.

In case you missed it, in my last blog I made a request for questions. For the next little while I’m running an experiment, and using my blog to respond to the questions that come through.

So, to this week’s topic.

When people ask if I’m busy (which happens remarkably often — “hey Pete, how are you doing? Busy?”), I always say no.

I’ve made a decision not to be busy. And not to train my subconscious by always saying how busy I am. And not to make being busy part of my identity.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have a full calendar, or have great projects on the go. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Even if I’m full, it doesn’t mean I have to be busy.

For me the key to being calm and unhurried, is just doing one thing at a time. Right now I am just writing this blog. When I’m with you, I’m 100% with you. (Or at least I do my best.)

It’s impossible to be busy if you’re just doing one thing, and completely in this moment.

There is a great line from the Forest Whitaker movie, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. It’s a line that has stuck with me for the two decades since I saw the movie:

Samurais don’t run in the rain.

I think Samurais also aspire to live a calm, unhurried life. Even when it rains.