The Art of Slowing Down
Today was one of those blazing hot pre-summer days in Ottawa. I decided to brave the sun and run some errands, thinking I could get a jump-start on my to-do list. As I was driving home, however, I got stuck behind one of those incredibly slow street sweeper trucks.
The person behind startled me with a honk from their horn. I suspect they weren’t too thrilled about the new pace either.
Undeterred, the truck just kept going at its own speed. As I sat there in my car, edging along behind it, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this was a sign… reminding me to slow down.
That moment of wonder shifted something inside of me. You see, I’ve been trying to practice the art of slowing down more consciously for some time now. So instead of feeling irritated, I started to relax into the slow pace. I watched the pedestrians moseying around and stared at the shops that I’d passed a million times on this route, basking in the ordinariness of the moment.
I could feel my breathing relax, my heartbeat settle.
I went back home and decided to be more like that undeterred street sweeper truck. I scrapped the remaining half of my to-do list, unplugged from the business of the world, and went at my own pace.
Does life ever send you signs like this or am I the only one that attributes sentiments to inanimate objects here?
I just love to idea that when we face roadblocks in life, they might be there to divert us towards something more meaningful… if we let them.
Whatever you’re up to today, I hope that you’re tuning in and taking good care of you… whether that means slowing down or something else.
Incidentally, the piece of art at the top of this page was created during my recent week off… in a moment when I consciously decided to slow down.
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