Chop Chop

Chop chop (chŏp’chŏp’)

adv. Informal
Right away; quickly.

Back when I spent my days chauffeuring willing minds to guitar, piano, soccer and ballet, I would sometimes get in a bit of a hurry to get out the door.  To encourage a speedy exit by all, I would clap my hands together twice and say, “Chop, chop!”  It was instinctual for me to say this peppy command combined with my mid-air hand clapping.  It seemed happy.  It was efficient and fun, right?  While it was meant to motivate and rally, it would often stop my children right in their tracks so that they could give me their mouth-hanging-open “really?” look.  They hated it.  For some reason that only a therapist could unearth, this was a tough one for me to give up.  I knew it was unpopular.  I knew it didn’t work, and yet it would fly right out of my mouth and my hands would whip up before I could stop them.  It had the same unpleasant effect, every time.  I did eventually learn to let this rally cry go.  My kids still tease me about it.

Still, I had the soul of a chopper.  Eventually, I learned to satisfy the urge through the kinder, gentler, meditative sound of my knife hitting the chopping block when I prepared a meal for my family.  I can provide nourishment instead of negativity.  It’s easy for me to lose myself in the repetitive motion and the delicious aromas of fresh herbs and garden vegetables.  A little music, a little wine….

I still have to resist the urge to go into “chop chop” mode.  It’s not who I want to be.  I know now that I can accomplish things and live a pretty fabulous life without marching in and directly the troops.  In the end, the things that need to get done will get done.  All is well.