Interesting article about time.
From
Differences in Time
by Harriet Murray
For the American or Canadian unaccustomed to a culture other than his or her own, the difference in what we call "time" can be frustrating. The key is to understand the differences that cultures have regarding the concept of time.
One time value is "monochronic", which is defined as "one thing at a time. The other kind of time value is "polychronic" or time in which many things occur simultaneously.
Americans and most people in English speaking countries are monochronic or "M-time" people who concentrate on one task at a time. Other countries that are polychronic or "P-time" people more commonly engage in doing many things at the same time. Asian, Arabic and Spanish-speaking countries are more often polychronic.
Monochronic people view time as a straight line moving forward and never returning. Tasks are scheduled to happen at specific times and being "on time" is a virtue. On the positive side, viewing time this way can cause tasks to be completed in a more scheduled time period. On the negative side, M-people can become obsessed with things having to happen "on time."
Polychronic or P-people live with a more indefinite concept of time. Time is more open-ended. Time is not a precise design composed of minutes and hours. P-time can be determined by the differences in the seasons or the position of the sun in the sky. Time is a moving circle. Time not "used" is not lost because it comes around again. Deadlines do not have to be held to a precise time schedule, things can always be done later. You view scheduling by minutes as inhuman and unfriendly, robotic or machine-like. To you, this takes the spontaneity and excitement out of life.
If you are more monochronic, you consider this "casual" use of time as a weakness of character and those that are polychronic need to be "fixed." The differences in these to perspectives cause friction between people trying to work on the same task.
It may be helpful to realize that for most of the time man has been on earth, polychronic time was the standard. Industrialization brought the newer concept of precise time with tasks defined by following the clock. Time management became a standard in countries as they became more industrialized. Polychronic time gradually diminishes in business situations, as there is industrial progress.
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I just thought that was interesting , one of my views about recovery is that it will happen in its own time and setting an arbitrary (is that spelled right?) date will only confuse and complicate the issue unnecessarily.
Differences in Time
by Harriet Murray
For the American or Canadian unaccustomed to a culture other than his or her own, the difference in what we call "time" can be frustrating. The key is to understand the differences that cultures have regarding the concept of time.
One time value is "monochronic", which is defined as "one thing at a time. The other kind of time value is "polychronic" or time in which many things occur simultaneously.
Americans and most people in English speaking countries are monochronic or "M-time" people who concentrate on one task at a time. Other countries that are polychronic or "P-time" people more commonly engage in doing many things at the same time. Asian, Arabic and Spanish-speaking countries are more often polychronic.
Monochronic people view time as a straight line moving forward and never returning. Tasks are scheduled to happen at specific times and being "on time" is a virtue. On the positive side, viewing time this way can cause tasks to be completed in a more scheduled time period. On the negative side, M-people can become obsessed with things having to happen "on time."
Polychronic or P-people live with a more indefinite concept of time. Time is more open-ended. Time is not a precise design composed of minutes and hours. P-time can be determined by the differences in the seasons or the position of the sun in the sky. Time is a moving circle. Time not "used" is not lost because it comes around again. Deadlines do not have to be held to a precise time schedule, things can always be done later. You view scheduling by minutes as inhuman and unfriendly, robotic or machine-like. To you, this takes the spontaneity and excitement out of life.
If you are more monochronic, you consider this "casual" use of time as a weakness of character and those that are polychronic need to be "fixed." The differences in these to perspectives cause friction between people trying to work on the same task.
It may be helpful to realize that for most of the time man has been on earth, polychronic time was the standard. Industrialization brought the newer concept of precise time with tasks defined by following the clock. Time management became a standard in countries as they became more industrialized. Polychronic time gradually diminishes in business situations, as there is industrial progress.
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I just thought that was interesting , one of my views about recovery is that it will happen in its own time and setting an arbitrary (is that spelled right?) date will only confuse and complicate the issue unnecessarily.