“You have no incubation time for ideas- and incubation time is very important.”

These are words from Raf Simons, on his departure from Christian Dior. Doing six shows a year with little time left in between to, in his own words, “incubate,” can take a toll on even the most driven person.

As a parent who is too quick to yell “’I’ll count to five and you better be done!”, and as a yoga practitioner who is well aware of the virtues of quieting down and tuning in, learning to take time off and to give time is a lifelong practice.

I took a little time off recently to reboot myself. This time, I did not over-plan my travel itinerary. I ensured that there was time to sit at coffee shops and shoot the breeze; to give another human being my undivided attention because I was not in a great hurry to rush to another place; to go for some TLC at the spa after my yoga practice. More significantly, that there was space to go with the flow, and change course, or let go, if so required. Truly, the equanimity that comes from being in the present moment, instead of being so destination-oriented, changes the experience of the journey.

When we give time, there is space to immerse ourselves in the experience, gain insight, fail, and pick ourselves up again.

“Mama, what’s the hurry?” was one annoying question my child had the audacity to ask whenever I was trying to beat the clock. “It’s all about your self-imposed timeframe,” chipped in the eminently patient husband. Upon reflection on the [yoga] mat many years later, indeed, what’s the great chase about?

Try telling Mr. Sopheak you need him to produce 2,000 bangles in a day. It takes the talented self-taught craftsman two days to carve, file, smooth, polish, and cajole one piece of this brass beauty into shape. Slowly and steadily, he produces our bestselling bangle, two days at a time. Does the Third World craftsman have no sense of urgency – or is the First World being too consumed by life he has forgotten how to live it?

The ethically and sustainably produced merchandise at 100 Good Things are sourced with care, consciousness and understanding. To purchase them, visit 100 Good Things store.