slowing down

a few thoughts on this extremely valuable yet highly underappreciated practice...

I cannot express enough how much this has changed my life. It isn't an easy thing to do, and takes practice, but has added so much value to my life and I believe we all could benefit from giving it the time of day.

I use the word practice with intentionality; today, this doesn't come naturally in our hustle and bustle society. In a society that puts worth on productivity, taking a moment to stop the rush can feel impossible. In fact, I would say it is such a challenge to do because we don't want to feel that we are wasting our time. To that, then I ask: what does it mean to you to "waste time"? I chose this image with thought, too. It's simple yet it carries weight in its beauty. For me, looking at these flowers calms my mind, and that is not a waste of time in my eyes.

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To take the time and notice what is around, especially the natural features that are a part of this land that are often missed, you are engaging with the present moment; to be in the moment is to listen and to feel- a whole other topic I could talk about- and this is deeply connected with slowing down. When you listen, you aren't just go go going. When you are feeling, you are making choices based on these emotional responses to the daily events that are occurring. In terms of health, I believe this is one of the best things you can do. I've experienced it firsthand and have witnessed others experience the consequences of ignoring the signals your body is sending you. We are human. We need rest. We need sunlight. We need stillness sometimes; this is something I've been working on.

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Back to the word "practice". How can we do this?

Ways I try to slow down throughout the week:

- Put down my phone when I'm eating. That way, I physically slow down and the process of eating becomes more mindful.

- Talk slower! Feels silly in the moment but honestly makes such a huge difference. I believe I'm able to speak a lot clearer and with greater intention.

- Journal instead of scroll. That way, I'm consuming less and can let my mind wander and explore how I'm feeling deep down. This allows me to do some reflection, maybe some goal setting- practices that help me to make self-improvement.

- Choose to pick up a book when I have the chance. Such a wonderful outlet to learn, breathe, not look at a screen.

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From The Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson:

"Without silence, there is no music." - page 151

I think this statement could be interpreted in a variety of ways, but how I look at it is this: If we don't take a moment to pause and experience what life is offering to us in that moment, it will pass us by. I don't think anyone would argue that what we truly want deep down is to feel to the fullest extent. Feel excitement about fun future plans, the joy you get when you eat your favorite foods, the satisfaction of completing an important task. All is to say that our days are dimmed when we don't stop to smell the flowers.

"When we obsess too much about time efficiency, we enjoy our time less." - page 157

This second quote also from Wilson relates directly to what I just explained; when we do too much with little thought or appreciation, its magic is dimmed. A little side note- when I tell myself that time doesn't matter, it makes the world of a difference, honestly. One way I do this is by intentionally stopping myself from checking the time and instead telling myself, "it doesn't matter". I found that it helps my mind stay focused on my task at hand and allows for more care to show in the work I'm doing since I'm not allowing for the stress or distraction of time getting in the way. There have definitely been times in the last year where I'm glued to the clock and I'm planning what's going to come next and then after that and after that. Living my day that way feels extra exhausting, uncreative, and dim. I'm not putting my energy and spark into my task at hand because I'm letting a moment that doesn't even exist yet take over instead of being present and having care for what I'm choosing to do in that moment. My point in saying all that is to express how relieving it feels to not let the clock dictate you but instead simply enjoy your day.

Side Side Note- The Way We Eat Now is on my favorites list for nonfiction books!! So informative with lots of details to consider but told in a story-like way that is easy to digest. :)

To end on something fun, a song I can't stop playing on repeat is Slow Down by Forrest Frank! It physically has a calming effect on my brain and a mental tie to all of this talk about stopping the rush we so easily feel the need to live like.

"I just want to slow down in my heart, walk at the pace of the breeze. I just want to slow down in my mind, rest like a bird in the trees."

Thank you so much for reading.

xox, Kat :)