Why does it seem that as we get older time goes by faster and faster? Suddenly, before we know it, we are at the end of the year looking back reminiscing and seeing a blur of activity. As we travel through our lives there seems to be a pace required in order to make things happen, to accomplish goals, to complete tasks or to just stay afloat. With the technical advances in the world today, this self-made pace that we have surrendered to seems to require more speed in order to keep up. However, do we really get more accomplished and reach higher goals by moving faster through life? If so, what are we sacrificing along the way? The strange thing is we will usually get to our destination, whether we run full speed or whether we take a leisurely walk, at the same time.
So what is it that has made us adults run through life? As children, days would be long and hours would last forever. Time was on our side as they say and as a child you usually had more than plenty of it. Once we became independent adults, it was just a matter of keeping up with everyone that made us move faster. People would ask, what are you going to do? What are your plans? Where are you going? Questions, that many of us had not really spent time contemplating. Suddenly the big questions were there and the answers had to come just as quickly. Unfortunately, this transition pushed many of us into the fast moving current of ‘doing’ and ‘reacting’. The thought of slowing down would only enter our mind if there was a mental or physical breakdown or society said it was time to slow down, as in retirement or old age.
Nowadays though, with virtual access to anybody at anytime and anywhere, we are able to keep in constant contact with others. This fast moving current we jumped into initially is now moving at rapid speed. As we grow accustomed to the rapids, we don’t even realize this tremendous pace at which we are travelling through life. We can be connected to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can be awaken each morning by news of world events from all corners of the globe in real time and our family and relatives can get a hold of us anytime to remind of things to do and places to be. We hold multiple things in our mind at once and feel it is a bad day when we are only able to accomplish five out of the ten things on our “to do” list.
This rush ‘to do’ has diluted the experience of the journey we are taking. This journey is our personal movement through life. Time has not become less. Time can stand still, if you let it. In addition, what you want to accomplish can actually be done in the same amount of time, with less speed and stress on your part. Understand that moving slower through life does not mean you become lazy and non-caring. Moving slower means being able to use each of your senses to experience the activities in your life. Moving slower means having control. There are simple exercises you can start using in your life now. From these simple techniques, you can expand your newly acquired ability to move at a slower pace to other activities. For instance, walk slower. Slow your stride and as you do, listen to what is going on around you. Drive slower. Let the other cars pass you and allow courtesy in traffic. Let them go. You will probably arrive at the same destination as the same time anyway. Notice the world around you and the energy of those passing you as you drive more slowly. Eat slower. Savor the taste of each bite and chew with deliberate enjoyment. Drink more slowly. Feel the liquid quench your thirst and delight in the coolness or warmth in you body. Speak slower. Engage and listen to others then take a deep breath. Choose your words carefully and with meaning.
There is a profound energy in slowness and each of these techniques will start giving you control back of your life. But most importantly, it will start giving you something you cannot buy, time. Slowing down is how you make time. You will soon notice that along the way, as you start moving slower, opportunities that you would have overlooked in the past will open up. Conversations may become more interesting as you stay focused on what other people are saying before jumping in with your thoughts. Richer experiences will be more commonplace and your body may just have time to rejuvenate more often.
May this new found energy bring enriching movement into you life for 2009!
