I am a 38yo wife, mother, friend & sister. I have been married for 17 years, and I have two children: Music (formerly Karate Kid) my 14yo son, and Drama Queen, my 12yo daughter.
I've been experimenting the last week. Nooo, not like that. I've been doing an experiment in slowing down. After all, it's summer, the ultimate take-it-easy time of year.
For those of you who listen to Alabama, you'll recognize these lyrics:
I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.
That, ladies and gentlemen, could be the theme song of my life. I need to check my baby book to see how old I was when I walked. I would bet I was an early walker. And I'm sure it didn't take long for me to learn to run.
Lately I have felt like I am missing out on things. I wake up feeling like I'm running behind and then spend the rest of the day playing catch-up, trying to get as many things done as possible before I drop from exhaustion. I continually feel guilty because I haven't accomplished as much as I wanted. My whole life is passing by in a blur because I'm too busy rushing from one thing to another.
Last week I decided that I'd had enough. I was tired of feeling anxious and stressed out all the time because I was constantly in a hurry. I think it really hit home when I realized how impatiently I was (not) listening to my daughter try to tell me something. I always get so aggravated with her because not only does she do everything in her own time and do it slowly, but listening to her tell a story is like water torture to me. Drip...drip...drip. All I can think of is how much I need to get done and what I could have accomplished in the time it took her to tell me those five sentences.
So last week began my experiment in slowing down. Now I do the same things I normally do, but I slow down to do them. I don't race the clock anymore. I actually sit down every once in a while to let myself rest for 5 minutes before I try to tackle something else. I've been watching TV less and reading more. I even try to move more slowly. For a race walker like me, that's a big accomplishment.
I feel incredibly better. I don't feel the tension in my shoulders and neck as much. I don't feel like I am in a perpetual state of rushing, causing my heart to accelerate and my breathing to be fast and shallow. I am able to be just a tad bit more patient. I feel like I have time for my children again.
It's funny, but I since I've slowed down some, I feel like my day is longer. Now all I need is a wraparound porch, a good book and a cold drink. Actually, just look for me in the hammock instead.
Posted @
8:47 AM ~
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