Slow Down

Slow Down

Take nothing for granted; watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow. Taste your food; It's to delight, as well as to nourish. Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set; They are remarkable for their steady pattern, not for their speed.

Stop planning how you're going to use what you know or possess. They are gifts. Use them now. When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried person in you.

Work with your hands. Free your mind. Take time to wonder. Sit in the dark. It will teach you to seeand hear, taste and smell. Pet a furry friend, you will give and get the gift of now.

Create a place in your home,at your work, in your heart,where you can go for quiet reflection. Allow yourself time to just be. Rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.

Divide big jobs into little jobs. When you find yourself anxious, stop. Ask yourself why. Listen to the wind blow. It tells of yesterday, tomorrow and now. Now is what counts.

Do rest on your laurels, they bring comfort, whatever their age or condition. Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't always measured by words. Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for living, not scheduling.

Direct your life with purposeful choices,not with speed and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first. Take a day off alone, make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one.

Listen to the song of a bird; the complete song. Music and nature are gifts,but only if you receive them. Action is good and necessary,but it's fruitful only if you muse, ponder and mull. Make time for the things you like to do; your inner child needs re-creation.

Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks and teaches. Listen to the words you speak. Learn to stand back and let otherstake their turn as leaders. Take time to read; thoughtful reading enriches the soul.

Once in awhile, turn down the volume; turn down the invitations. Less really can be more. Let go. Nothing is sometimes the hardest thing to do - but sometimes it is the best. Take a walk. But don't go anywhere. If you walk just to get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking.

Slow down. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself, right now. Remember a peaceful time. Rest there. Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor. Set your own pace.
-- Author Unknown