Good things take time: Quality over quantity

Americans have been at the forefront of technological advancement since our founding. The lightbulb, the airplane, the telephone, air conditioning, anesthesia, and the assembly line are all products of our country, which celebrated its 250th birthday this year and is remarkably young compared to most nations. 

Americans tend to live their lives focused on progress and instant gratification. We have high-speed internet, air conditioning, DoorDash, and so much more that makes our lives comfortable. Yet while Americans are excellent at moving fast, a trip across the pond has shown me the benefits of slowing down, and introduced me to some of life’s luxuries that are best created and enjoyed at a slower pace.

Turkish rugs

In my life of comfort and convenience, there are some things I don’t think about, such as the rug beneath my feet. For some Turkish women, however, that is all they think about. Turkish rugs are made by thousands and thousands of meticulously tied knots. The more expensive the rugs, the more knots are tied per square inch, some rugs containing up to 1,000 knots in a square inch of space tied by Turkish women. These rugs are exquisite, beautifully woven, with brightly shining colors that change depending on the lighting and angle, an heirloom passed down from generation to generation.

Rugs, which I rarely think about, for these Turkish families are a centerpiece in their home, something handcrafted for generations upon generations of feet to trod on and admire. However, these rugs are far from the only meticulously crafted and constructed things I learned to notice. 

Honey, Wine, and Oil

The sun was shining in the Grecian sky, and the sound of bees permeated the shadows of the olive trees where we sat. In the distance, grape vines stretched over the rolling hills. We were surrounded by three of the major exports of Greece: honey, wine, and oil. Each of them requires time, patience, and cooperation to bring to completion. Their creation process is just as important as the product. 

In the development of each product there is an element of cooperation with nature. Grape vines interact with the seasons and the terrain. Baby olive trees require more water than mature ones, a challenge in the rocky Greek terrain. Honey, of course, requires the bees to do much of the work, and for human cooperation with their structures of life. The process is what creates an excellent version of each of these products. 

So often I focus only on what I can get out of something, whether that be money, or a degree or temporary satisfaction, and I lose sight of the beauty of the process. Tasting these richly cultivated wines, oils, and honey was incredible, yes, but it was even more striking to be among the growing and living process, witnessing the time and patience it takes for each of them to come to fruition. 

Patience

Quality takes time. While we can be obsessed with speed and instant gratification, true workmanship requires patience. Patience not just with yourself but also with the process, with nature. The process is different every time. 

The honey harvester will never know exactly what the honey will taste like until he samples it. The wine-growers never know exactly what kind of weather the year will bring. Will it be a wet year — bad for the grapes? Will it be a dry year? Will there be hail? High winds? There is patience in the process of our lives and surrender with the process. 

We can never be quite sure what our own lives will bring. There will be storms in our lives, and there will be dry years. Yet these experiences abroad have taught me that greatness takes patience, fortitude, and cooperation with what God sends us. It is important to remember that our lives are not just about the product, but the process, and remember that just like fine wine, we too take time to perfect.