Free Flow vs No Flow

It was a fairly average slow and lazy Sunday, but I’d gotten off to an early start, habituated to it from the working week. A sense of conscientiousness underlay the journey to the nearest Starbucks to read and reflect, and hopefully start the day with some suitable energy. I was the first one there, with the most tucked away seating being still available; happiness indeed, in a store where there are often queues for seats. After having placed my order, I stood up before they called me and went to walk over to the opposite side of the cafe which is typically where the drinks would be dispensed. The lady working there looked at me so as to gesture, “Don’t worry, I will bring it to you.” It made sense, I was right next to her, and where the drink was being made. For the sake of formality and process, for me to have to go to the other side, and her too, seemed unnecessary. It worked, there was a pleasant interaction between us, and probably a sense of understanding and even homeliness in the interaction there.

Once I finished my food and drink after having spent some time reading, in a relatively calm state of mind, I approached the same side of the cafe counter, looking to leave my cup and plate with someone there. The young chap working there gestured and said in a tone for formality, “used cups go on that side,” and walked across to the other side of the store, opposite to where the wash basin was, and I put it in there. It increased the “work” for both of us. It probably removed a degree of “trust,” and added or re-asserted a degree of “process.” There is a role for process, certainly, when there are dozens of customers all putting their trash in different places, the process is necessary. But there are times where some understanding, can bring out the human side of our interactions and cooperation in day to day life. 

The book I was reading was about governance and bureaucracy, and exactly the topics that had unfolded at Starbucks. To what extent do we accept a degree of laissez-faire or spontaneous approach, as opposed to add structure to things. Well it depends, what is the criticality of the task at hand, is there so much at stake that to be too carefree could add risk? On the other hand, if we consider a primal athlete in someone like Usain Bolt when he was at his prime. Could he have snuck in an odd sweet dessert, or a cheat meal once every now and then? Of course he could have. But for Joe who is starting a diet, where the odd cheat meal may easily become a cheat week, it may make more sense to be regimental. Perhaps the younger staff insisting on trash being on one side is more like the cheat meal to cheat week style of discipline needed in order to be safe and steady in managing the flow in the cafe.

The stakes discussed in the book I was reading, were far higher; they would involve the governance of an entire nation, which could end up in poverty with people dying, should proper governance not be maintained. We too, in all aspects of our lives, need to assess where we may have room to be natural and organic, and where we may need to be stricter; stricter with people, with process, with diet, in order that we may pursue the best outcomes.

“Our lives should observe the happy medium between the ways of sage, and the ways of the world at large.” 

Lucius Anneus Seneca, 4BC - 65 AD