Slow Motion

“Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.”
~ William Shakespeare

Like many people, I’m juggling a lot in life. There are so many areas that need my focus: Work. Grad school. Family. Health. Home. Recently, at the end of a very hectic week, I felt completely scattered and found it difficult to focus. My body and brain finally said, “Enough!” I realized I needed to slow down.

You’ve been there. Everything is done in a hurry. As soon as one task is removed from your to-do list, two more are added. You often just want to race home and be done with the day. But more chores await you there and hours later you fall into bed exhausted.

When life is this hectic, being mindful is the last thing on your mind! However,   I know when I’m paying attention, life often gives me very clear signs. On this day I had to feel completely rattled before it hit me. A little voice said “Just slow down.”

Listening to this voice, I decided to take the next exit off the highway. Yes, surface streets would take me 30 minutes longer to arrive home. That night the time didn’t matter. I just needed to slow down. So I pulled off.

For once, I cherished every red light. It meant I could close my eyes for a few seconds and stop completely. Literally.

I opened the sunroof. I did some belly breathing. I finally took care of myself in the present moment during a week where I hadn’t been mindful at all.

I’d love to say I’m in a constant state of self-awareness, but then I wouldn’t be human. I’m a work in progress and I am still fine-tuning my mindfulness practice. In this mile-a-minute world we live in, how do you remind yourself to slow down?

Where do you go when you’re searching for peace and quiet?

I hope you give yourself that gift today, even if it’s only for a few minutes on your commute.

If you would like help in working toward mindfulness and pacing yourself in life, please contact Chrysalis Healing Collaborative: info@chcstl.org or 314-395-8505.