Without haste and with calm in the heart

In another era, my life was a daily whirlwind. I rushed through everything, trying to do a thousand things at once. While sometimes I managed to accomplish them all, and relatively well, I was left with a feeling of exhaustion, or worse, a frustration of not having enjoyed the moment, of not having dedicated more time to it, or of doing things soullessly, just to get them over with. I complained that I needed a clone to complete all my pending tasks, or wished the day had more than 24 hours so I could do everything I had in mind.

I was younger then, and I felt I had to be involved in everything, that I was losing a second of my life if I slowed down. In fact, I boasted about reading a book every day, even though I'd forget what I'd read afterward, about doing a thousand things at the same time: walking, thinking, and solving problems while chewing gum. I was like a toy car with brand-new batteries, bumping into everything, but still not stopping.

But one day, I think it might have been related to the deaths of some close friends and family, I asked myself what the point was of living in such a rush. Why do a thousand things half-heartedly when I could do a few well? I asked myself. Then I understood that life isn't a sprint, but a marathon, and that at the pace I was keeping, exhaustion wouldn't allow me to enjoy anything.

That's when I slowed down, took my foot off the gas pedal, and began to appreciate the scenery of each day more. Now, I only do what I want and can do, when I can. It's not the end of the world if I can't make it to an event, even if it's the event of the year. I respect my body, and if my body is tired, I don't push it, nor do I get upset about it. I don't accept anyone telling me, "This was due yesterday," because I feel that those words, rather than encouraging speed, create stress.

That's why now I savor my morning coffee, each sip unhurried, without looking at the clock. If I don't have to work, I turn off my alarms. I've learned the pleasure of walking and letting people pass: those behind me can't rush me. I appreciate looking out the windows, underlining in a book as I read and take notes. I draw, listen to music, walk barefoot. At this pace, I'm able to hear my own heartbeat, delight in flavors and moments, smell the present in every detail, see the signs of the universe. Like someone slowly eating a delicious cake, I've learned that to truly live life, you have to enjoy everything you do, walk, and watch the sunrises and sunsets unfold before your eyes.

All images are from my personal gallery and the text was translated with Google

Thank you for your support, for reading, and for your comments, friends. Until next time