Convenience is one of the currencies of modern living. Everything we do or create now is done to help us make things happen with less difficulties. However, in my work with Forest School in fast-paced Singapore, I’ve experienced and felt the huge downsides of excessive convenience. With convenience served on a plate, Human beings seem to have developed a lack of several things: patience, capability to let go of control and a sense of creativity in the face of challenges.
In light of the realisation many years ago, I wanted to explore the notion of inserting planned inconvenience into my work and my lifestyle. I wanted to see what experiences and improvement these adjustments will make to my life and the community around me. I took steps to slow down the processes of Forest School, such as registration, coordination of time and internal changes. All of which does not compromise safety or operational integrity.
The slowing down of the processes led to a healthier mental wellness for the team that I was working with. It also led our community to slow down and learnt to be more patient with us, as they recognised the humanity of the team. People reached out to us much earlier than usual, and we could give each other healthy space and time to develop the relationship and work on the issues at hand.
When I slow down, it allows my brain to rest. It gives me space to be creative with solutions. It also enables me to develop patience and a capacity to realise opportunities around me, while I wait. Rushing in many ways does not give us a very positive experience. Slowing down the process intentionally is actually a practice of mindfulness in work and life, and not just for a few hours at a quarterly workshop.
Planned inconveniences also introduce a higher level of difficulty in my work and way of living. For example, walking 30 minutes to another destination, instead of taking a 10 minute ride in the car. It pushes us to visualise ahead a little more, exercising the mental muscle. It engages our body to work out the physical muscles through the walk. It also allows us to make time for the experience, time that we often rush through without thinking. The difficulties that arise shape themselves into natural life and work challenges, hence demanding more of our creativity and endurance capacity. This raises a person’s resilience and resolution-making ability. And you know what’s interesting, when I resolve difficulties by my own wits and capabilities, I feel like the resolution has my name imprinted on it. I kind of take ownership of it naturally. I did it.
Lastly, Planned Inconvenience made me realise the importance of Acceptance. The acceptance of our imperfection. When things slow down, and difficulties arise, we become aware of our flaws and imperfection as human beings in this natural world and life. When we accept ourselves, we are able to let go of the sense of control we have for the things around us. Many of the mental health issues in the world are rooted in the mental state of control. Alleviating this overly tense state of mind allows us to be human about ourselves.
The excessive paradigm of exploitation and unsustainability has its root also in the idea that we need to control everything. We consume and possess excessive amounts, because we are afraid to lose that control. As we gradually learn to accept ourselves and let go of this controlling state of mind, we would improve not just our own lives, but also the community around us, resulting in a balanced living extension of ourselves.
Planned inconvenience may seem like an attempt to make our lives more difficult. But only by living through it did I realise the rich benefits that are naturally embedded in the challenges and opportunities that Inconvenience has brought me.
This will continue to be an experimental experience, as I continue the journey, adjusting and exploring the range of elements that arise from the “Planned” Inconvenience.
Written by: Darren Quek
Editted by: Wei Shimin
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