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On Not Watching the Pot Boil
Because it seems to go on forever
I’ll let you in on a secret.
Sometimes I watch life’s pot boil, even though focusing on it makes the event feel far too long. I know there’s a good reason the saying about not watching the pot boil exists, and yet, I’m drawn to standing there, observing, as though it can’t do its job without me. And this, my friend, is a bad habit, especially when applied to situations that don’t need my watchful eye.
Isn’t it funny how time stretches when you pay it too much attention?
The other morning, my husband Lee caught me staring at the kettle.
“You don’t need to stand there waiting you know,” he said. “It will boil when it’s ready, no matter what you do.”
I knew he was right. As long as you’ve poured water into it and flicked the switch or put it on a flame, it will eventually heat—such a simple lesson, and one we can use often in life if only we remember.
I first recognised the advice not to pour too much attention into events you’ve set in motion years ago. Once all the elements for success are in place, there’s no need to triple-check them. If you do, something odd can happen.
Unlike an actual kettle that will eventually boil even if you focus on it and string out…
