Here I am, in the city, sitting down in Dunking Donuts and sipping on my decaf tea at 4 pm while waiting to go to the pharmacy to pick up my dad’s medication. I have to wait an hour for my dad’s medication. An hour! “Gosh!”, anyone would think, “What can I do for an hour waiting for some medication?” My response, just sit back and drink some decaf tea. Yes, just sit and read a little. Just sit and watch people walk by while sipping on my tea.
Lots of times we just rush, rush, rush, always rushing to do the next thing that needs to get done. I know that’s what I used to do only to realize I was rushing for nothing, stressing myself, slowly making myself sick and not enjoying the moment. Whether you realize it or not, it is important for your mental, emotional and physical health to just slow down and take a moment to just appreciate the moment and just relax. Take it slow. Always being in a rush actually activates the sympathetic system which is involved in the flight and fight response when we perceive danger and this is dangerous for our health on a constant, daily basis.
Slowing down allows you to take in the moment, thus, enjoying it. Slowing down relaxes the body allowing you to be calm, your mind to be clear and emotionally in balance. Isn’t balance something that we are constantly striving to have? Well, slowing down is part of the equation in order to achieve that balance. The next time you find yourself having to wait long in line, wait to get anything, take that as an opportunity to just relax, slow down and even still, to enjoy that very moment.
If you are the type who is always in a rush or Type A personality, this will take some time. Whatever it takes for you to reach that point of learning to slow down, give yourself that time. It will be so worth it and it is a small investment you are making towards your health and wellbeing. Wellbeing doesn’t come overnight so any small deposit you make will make a difference. This act of slowing down, you will slowly notice, will provide you with some inner peace, also necessary for our wellbeing.
Any moment you can take to slow down, take it. Trust me, it is NOT a waste of time but a small deposit to your health and wellbeing and towards living to the max.