Hurry, hurry, hurry.
Faster, faster, faster.
More, more, more.
Nowadays, all has to be getting done now, preferably yesterday.
Nobody has any patience for anything anymore.
We write a mail or a message, and we want an immediate answer.
We order something online, and we want it delivered at the latest, tomorrow.
We want a chore to be done around the house, and we grumble that we have to wait for a month before the person can come and execute the job.
What’s the hurry?
Why do we need everything now?
Why are we rushing through life?
You know, the end is the same for everyone…
So why don’t we slow down?
Why don’t we look around to actually see what is happening in our lives?
Why don’t we breathe, and take in all the beauty that we miss, because of our rushing through life?
I know, I hear you, “people expect this from me”, you say.
Yes, that is true.
But does this mean we can’t change things?
Imagine what would happen if we were allowed to breathe, and take our time again?
Imagine what would happen if people were saying ‘hi’ again when meeting a stranger in the street, at the grocery store?
Imagine how you would feel, arriving at work, relaxed again, instead of having already absorbed 3 news bulletins, having tried to read some mails, having texted several people?
And yes, I say tried.
When we get up, and immediately step into the rat-race, we are already giving up on control. We let other people’s agendas dictate our way of how we will experience our day.
Having a morning routine* is therefore a game changer.
Get up early enough, so that you won’t have to rush. And yes, getting up early, means having a good night’s rest.**
Take your time to slowly wake up, enjoy your shower. Listen to some classical music, meditate for a little time. If you are into yoga, practice some. Or do some breathing exercises, some stretching. Go outside for a couple of minutes, just to breathe and look around. Even if you live in a city, you can always open a window and look up at the sky.
Do NOT start reading your emails.
Do NOT start your first input of information being the negative, fear-inducing news.
If you are in control of the start of your day,
if you make sure you start your day away from negativity and stress,
you’ll notice how more easily you will go through the day. With the same schedule.
The fact that you decide when you’re ready to start working, you feel in control instead of overwhelmed.
The fact that you start your day with deciding to be present and being aware of how you want to live your day, makes all the difference in the world.
You’ll be more focused.
You’ll be more relaxed.
You’ll be less frustrated.
You’ll be open to finding solutions.
You’ll be more tolerant.
And the fact that you go through your day on this higher vibrational frequency, you’ll attract*** more of what is happening on that frequency.
The fact that you are calmer will defuse potentially ‘explosive’ discussions.
The fact that you take your morning time, will allow other people to do the same.
Imagine everyone getting up early enough so that they won’t have to rush through traffic. We would be gentle and polite again towards our fellow drivers.
Imagine leaving on time so that you do not need to ‘throw’ your kids out of the car, but that you can be gentle and patient when they grab their things.
Imagine arriving at work with a smile, ready to work together, instead of getting annoyed with our co-workers.
The list is endless.
Nothing but benefits.
And I know, it takes a shift in our minds.
But the more people make that shift, the gentler, the healthier we will all be.
And as Lao Tzu said:
“Nature never hurries, and yet, all gets accomplished.”
We are part of nature.
We are part of this beautiful planet.
Why don’t we look and learn from it again?
It is so smart.
It knows how to live, how to survive.
Let’s all be humble enough to realize we need nature.
Stop destroying ourselves, stop destroying nature by always wanting more, by always wanting things faster.
My invitation to you this week is:
Slow down.
Breathe.
Look at your life and decide to want less.
Look at your agenda and make space, plan silence.
Look at your house and create a calm, quiet haven.
Look at your body and start listening to it again.
Decide you will enjoy life from now on, even with all the troubles present.
Focus on what gives you energy.
Replace FOMO with JOMO****.
Be grateful for all the beauty you get to enjoy every single day.
Don’t rush through life, we all get to the end, no matter if we rushed to it, or if we took our time to enjoy the journey.
The big difference is, how we lived, how we chose to enjoy and see the beauty, or not.
Be content with where you are, with what you have, with who you are. You’ll never know it all, you’ll never have it all.
But what you do have is the choice.
Thank you all for reading me, and for supporting me on Medium! If you want unlimited access to all of my articles, and of many other authors, you can become a Medium Member. You’ll be supporting me and all the other authors. Many, many thanks to you all!!!
Katrien
*Happy Mornings, Happy Days. Happy Days, Happy Life. by Katrien Degraeve.
**Night Time: Sweet Dreams Or Waking Hours? by Katrien Degraeve.
***Ask and It is Given. by Esther and jerry Hicks.
**** FOMO: fear of missing out. JOMO: Joy of missing out.