Slow down! When I first thought of writing about the concept of slowing down, a song immediately came to mind. It was an old sixties song with a gentle reminder to slow down. Here it is.
I also think of this wind blown speed limit sign as a symbol of what could happen if we are exceeding our speed of living!
It just seems that there are times when we must take stock of our lives and look at the wisdom of a slower paced life. Here are ten quotes to contemplate.
- Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. Eddie Cantor
- Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list. Patti Digh
- Slow down. Life is crossing the road. Debasish Mridha
- Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Lau Tzu
- Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
- It always pays to dwell slowly on the beautiful things – the more beautiful the more slowly. Atticus
- Most people’s minds are too busy for them to feel their skins being caressed by the wind or the sun. Mokokoma Mokhonoana
- You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour. Zen Proverb
- The earth has music for those who listen. George Santayana
Slow Down – Where is Number Ten?
I know what you are thinking. Perhaps I ran out of quotes. Maybe there are truly only nine? Okay, maybe I just needed to slow things down a bit… Sometimes I just need a little help from my friends to slow down. This brief video of Oprah Winfrey interviewing Eckhart Tolle reveals a simple solution to slow the racing thoughts in one’s mind. This was fascinating to me as the secret is in the hands!
Yes, I will tell you that you are actually nearing your opportunity to read the number ten quote. However, that quote must be prefaced by some further information. When learning the practice of Spring Forest Qigong (SFQ), I learned that the movements are more powerful when performed slowly. There is more healing power when the exercises are moving glacially, as in the speed of a glacier! You are now ready to read my number ten quote.
10. Some people, the faster they go, the slower they are. kindergarten boy
If I had not had the SFQ experience, I would have thought this statement ludicrous. It also reminds me of the story of the tortoise and the hare. Remember it was the tortoise who won the race. The hare was so confident that he became distracted. He started out running so fast that he exhausted himself in the heat, so he needed a nap. This is similar to when we don’t stop our racing thoughts. It also resembles when we are overconfident that we are super human and can do it all. It truly is more important, more efficient, more life enhancing to slow down!
Slowing Down Further
Last of all, I’d like to share one more song which fits with our theme of slowing down.
As luck would have it, after I slowed down, I discovered that the very two songs I chose to feature slowing down were both written by Paul Simon! He truly seems to understand the human need to slow down and listen to the silence.
May you slow down to dwell in the beauty, to be truly speaking as you talk and listening as you hear. Search for the music within the framework of your life. Just breathe deeply and take in your life with the wisdom of a child!
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I believe in slowing down. Thank you for the beautiful reminder.
You are very welcome! After all, we were named human beings rather than human doings.
Oh yes I believe we need to slow down but sometimes there just is not enough time to get done what we want to do. I say this as we get home from Aleesha’s and I see the weeds in my flower beds and the stack of mail and paper work to go through. Yep, time to slow down as it is 5 o’clock somewhere!
Ah, you are quite right, there are no easy answers to this being human business. I am sorry for your sense of overwhelm. Perhaps prioritize and list which is most important and/or most difficult. (If any have a deadline, of course that takes precedence.) I’ve read if we accomplish our most difficult items first, we are more motivated to move onto the easier tasks. Give yourself periodic breaks as you work. Relish crossing off these jobs as they are completed. Just as we live our days, thankfully, only one day at a time, you plow through your tasks one at a time. If possible, maybe someone could help you or perhaps be hired to help. Only take it at a pace you can handle. Hugs!
I love this post Linda. Great quotes, fab songs and the video clip is excellent. Taking time to just breathe is so important so i especially love the one about not having time to meditate! Thank you!
Thank-you, Cathy! One doesn’t always appreciate slowing down until rushing reminds one otherwise!