The Times Are Urgent.  Let Us Slow Down.

I recently read a sad statistic that 59% of U.S. workers are using less than their allotted PTO hours each year. Now many U.S. companies offer a mere two weeks of paid time off, so the fact that many
workers are afraid to use the time is startling. I certainly hope you are in the other 41%
and have been able to put aside the grinding for a while to frolic in the sunshine this
summer. We all need to downshift from time to time and let go of extra responsibilities.
Come to think of it, we could all do ourselves a favor by slowing down, not just for
summer, but from here on out.

But first a question: have you allowed yourself to slow down this summer, or have you
been trying to maximize every moment of every summer weekend? Have you enjoyed
some leisurely days in the backyard with a frisbee or a book, or have you been taking
to the highways to see how many miles you can cover?

Many of us 21st century folk (especially those of us in the U.S.) have a really hard time
slowing down. We’re always on the go, or when we’re not, we’re plugged into a device
that is keeping our minds revved up.

The truth is the world is suffering – really suffering – from all this unnecessary speed.
The speed of instantaneous information and digital stimuli, the speed of traveling
across the globe on a whim, the speed of click/buy and same day delivery – all of these
things have resulted in a combustion problem. It takes enormous amounts of energy to
keep everything moving at these high speeds, and that creates heat, i.e. a warming
atmosphere.

And what is all that speed doing to us individually? Well, it literally burns us out, for
one. The internal speed that we all walk around with results in anxiety, stress, false
urgency, panic, impatience and outrage. When we are sped up internally, we overthink
things, we fly off the handle, we can’t see solutions, our IQ literally drops. Yes, truly.
And eventually we burn out or break down (physically and/or mentally).

But we can each choose to slow down. There may be things we can’t slow down right
now, but there are definitely things we can. And when we slow down our lives and our
minds, so many incredible things happen. The illusion of scarcity gives way to an
awareness of abundance. Problems big and small seem more manageable. Rushing
gives way to presence and the fullness of the moment. We enjoy life more, we enjoy
people more. We are less anxious, agitated, annoyed. The planet cools down and
returns to balance.

It’s so simple and yet we’re so out of practice that it’s hard to get there. But I’m inviting
you to try. There really isn’t anything that can’t wait (unless it is literally life or death.)
For your own health and wellbeing and for the health of the planet, take it easy, unplug,
enjoy the moment.