Slow Down!

I keep hearing the message "slow down".  It's very insistent and comes to me at random times.

I'm listening.  

My happiest times have been when I've "slowed down" and been in touch with what is happening within me and around me.  When I've not been rushing to get to the next thing on the "to do" list.

I've been busy lately....who hasn't?!   Ask anyone what they've been up to...most people say "I don't know, but I've been really busy!"  Or maybe they do know, but they just don't have time to stop and have a conversation about it because they're itching to move on to the next thing.  Let's keep moving forward people, no time to stand still!   (I'm laughing at myself for doing these things.)

I've got a major project that I need to be working on, but I keep myself distracted and busy so that I don't have time to get to it.  It's the kind of thing that I really have to do, but I just don't enjoy doing it.  I've been having a lovely time doing loads of other interesting things...meeting up with friends, doing fun activities with the kids, going to the gym, and the list goes on.  Even doing housework and cooking is a good distraction from working on what I need to be doing.

When I think about the project, I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed.   When I think about it after a "slow down" message, I see how I can break it into little chunks in order to get it done.

I think that the "slow down" message is more than something to help me to focus and manage my time.  It's much deeper...it feels more urgent, like a reminder that life is rushing by and I'm going to miss some important things if I keep cruising by on the surface.

It's a reminder that the important things in life are the things that are felt with the heart.  It's not the material things.  It's the connection with other people, with nature, with Spirit, and with our Selves.

It's a reminder to really feel each moment...be there with my heart, not just my head.  

I'm grateful for receiving the message.  I'm applying it as much as possible.  I would like to be able to live it 24/7 as it's so important.  Simple, beautiful things like sunsets help me to remember.  Getting my "to do" list and scrunching it up and throwing it away works too!

We have got to stop the glorification of "busy"!

Nothing is more important than this moment. Right here. Right now!

In Joy!