Slow Down And Enjoy The Ride

A common phrase we all hear is "Life in the fast lane". There are fast and slow lanes. We all have heard the story about the tortoise and the hare. One appears fast and the other appears slow. One is lazy while one is consistent.

When we think about our own lives we can ask ourselves which one we are - the one who appears fast yet might have lazy tendencies, or the one who appears slow yet remains consistent. I think if we all slow down and enjoy the ride, we will appreciate the experience more.

A while back, I had a profound realization. When driving, I used to consistently find myself looking in the rear-view mirror to watch what all of the drivers behind me were doing. When I wasn't looking behind me I peered as far in front of me as the horizon would allow. In both cases I was not focused on what I was doing or where I was going. I was too preoccupied with everything behind or in front of me. Both were terrible distractions.

Have you ever driven with people who only drive in the fast lane of the road? They try to pass every vehicle they can - weaving in and out of each lane to try and stay ahead of the rest. The only time they slow down is when they see flashing lights trailing behind them and regrettably realize they have found themselves in the police lane.

We live in a fast-paced society. People are scrambling about, running back and forth trying to do everything for everyone. In some ways we have become too controlled by our planners. Many times we have over-planned our lives and ourselves. We do too much, too fast, too often, which is too bad.

When was the last time you took a long, slow, walk? How long has it been since you laid down on the grass and created shapes out of the clouds? When was the last time you went star gazing? Meditated? Read books all day? Had a movie marathon? Took a spontaneous vacation or getaway?

Each of us has obligations, commitments, deadlines, promises, anniversaries, birthdays, work, school, and a million other events to attend, participate in, watch, experience, etc. But each of these activities will come and go. We may enjoy or dread them. We may anticipate their arrival or fear their festivities. What matters most is not how many slots we can fill in our days, but how meaningful each moment of our lives may be.

Don't worry about doing everything. Do everything you can to enjoy what you do. Take time out of your schedule to relax and recuperate. Life is about experiencing everything life has to offer. Slow down and enjoy the ride of life.

Written by Jerald M. Simon
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