I Choose to Slow Down and Savor Life

I’ve been noticing that I’m rushing more lately. You too? When did telling each other we’re “crazy busy” become a badge of honor? I’m finding myself rushing to get the final Christmas presents, to finish my blog, to answer emails, to return calls to clients, to… Yikes!

I knew things were getting bad when I saw that my gym was offering a “Speed Yoga and Meditation” class and I was considering signing up. However, this morning I noticed a little voice inside me saying, “slow down…simplify…take it easy.” I wanted to dismiss it because I had too much to do!

Right after that insight, I began racing around getting ready for a meeting on Skype. Ironic? It suddenly hit me, this craziness of rushing. I decided that I didn’t want to do it any more. I wanted a more slowed down, simple life. I know I can’t simply snap my fingers and have my life change. But I can make a choice, and I’m choosing right here and now to simply breathe, slow down, feel grateful for the present moment.

It’s highly likely that I’ll have to keep reminding myself of these things. Rushing, urgency, ambition, getting ahead, are all part of the fabric of our culture. It’s an addiction. But how do you stop a habit? You become aware of doing it. You make a choice for what you want versus what you don’t want (peace versus rushing) and you take action on the decision.

Instead of rushing through this blog, I’m taking my time. I’m pausing to savor my words. Closing my eyes and listening to a song play on a car radio outside my office window. I’m drinking in the luxury of having an office all to myself this afternoon. I’m drinking a glass of cool, fresh water and loving that I get to write this and share it with you. I feel better already!

Did you know there is a World Institute of Slowness? On their home page they have a great quote from comedian Lily Tomlin, “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”

I also discovered Carl Honoré who wrote “In Praise of Slowness.” He writes, “The latest neuroscience shows that when people are in a relaxed, mellow state, the brain slips into a deeper, richer, more nuanced mode of thought. Psychologists actually call this Slow Thinking. Artists have always known that you cannot hurry the act of creation, and increasingly, businesses are realizing the same thing: that workers need moments to relax, unplug, be silent, in order to be creative and productive.”

Sounds like intuition to me! I think I’ll go take a nap. How about you?