I received a serious verbal licking from my parents while back in Boston about my life and how I am moving at mach speed and need to slow down and find more time to relax.Why is it that people are so anxious to get on with whatever it is they are doing that they have no time for anything, including relationships or community? Are we addicted to hurry? Clearly this need for speed is not good and can negatively impact the quality of our lives.
So why do we hurry? One theological teacher believes we are running away from aches and fears and presents some strategies for slowing down. At the core is the need to savor our experiences -- basically stopping, or slowing down enough, to smell the roses.
Here are a few recommended practices:
1. Honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy by allowing it to unfold without any time limits to your activities. Don't wear a watch or look at a clock.
2. Try a day of silence. Everything will seem much slower and more deliberate.
3. Resist the urge to hit the "door close" button in the elevator.
4. Practice "after you" and allow people to walk in front of you or exit in front of you.
5. Practice slowness by being slow to anger, slow to react, slow to judge, slow to respond and slow to write anyone or anything off.
6. Go for a slow walk around your neighborhood.
7. Notice moments when you let go of time and are 100% absorbed in what you are doing.
8. Be open to possibilities so that you don't miss them.
What do you do to slow your life down? Am I the only one that's always in a frenzied hurry?
5 comments:
great post mle... i think it takes a lot of work and conscious effort to slow life down, but the rewards are so worth while. for me, quitting my job so i can work part time is a huge step. taking the time to shop for yummy food and savor the cooking and eating of it. making time for a leisurly brunch with friends, even when it "disrupts" your day. taking public transportation. making a conscious effort not to over-book and to be at home a few nights a week. just a few :) xo virginia
I rolled over $180.00 worth of coins last night. It felt a lot like raking sand... but with a payday.
Hmmm...gotta agree with Virgil here on managing the number of commitments. We get some peace when we under-book ourselves and end up with down-time at home. Hard to do some days though. Really going to miss you Saturday.
...Russ
when I left corporate america (almost 7 years ago) I took my watch off. it stays off most times. I have an alarm to remind me of my appointments, but I keep my unscheduled time as flexible as possible (for someone running her own business).
shannon, you need to use coinstar and work on your three blogs!!!
Great suggestions everyone, although I am slightly troubled by the coin rolling. Shan, what's up with that?
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