Thursday, January 27, 2011

Slow Down

Maybe we all should all just slow down?

Maybe we should all turn off our computers, our mobile phones, television sets and consoles and just 'be' for a while.

Unwind, find time to actually be aware of everything around you. To just 'be'.

Would it be so bad?

Go for a walk, not a brisk stride...SLOW DOWN. Feel the wind brush through your hair and the chill of the air burn your cheeks, watch that lone bird circling above the field and  notice how the clouds slowly move and wander the skies, forming shapes.

Cuddle with your children on the sofa and talk to them, tickle them, glow as they laugh.  Make food together, sieve and mix and taste and savour every flavour together. Take a gloriously hot bath, light candles and sigh as you lower your shoulders under the water....and just breathe.

If we took the time to SLOW DOWN, maybe we could re-focus on the most important things in life, all the ones that come for free.

I for one need to slow down, stop moving so fast, stop expecting too much of myself and everyone around me, and to appreciate the simpler things in life that are all around me that I do not take the time to explore.

If you slowed down, what would you do?

The above post was prompted by Josie's Writing Workshop prompts - Word Hunt, go visit to see her post and those of others!

9 comments:

Beaky said...

Thanks for this! I need to remind myself of this constantly. I managed it over Christmas the only problem was stsrting again after two weeks of chilling.
B x

The Prettygoodlife said...

Too true -great reminder!

carole said...

I totally agree, we should all take the time to slow down and take a look at what is really important in our lives...thanks x

If I Could Escape . . . said...

So true! I do try and unplug every so often.

Anonymous said...

I really need to slow down now - just about to hit 36 weeks pregnant and I'm struggling to keep up with my own expectations for myself. I know there's only so much slowing down I *can* do with a toddler in the house but I need to accept that I can't do everything I could a couple of months ago without having a bit of a sit down in the middle.

I need to accept that the washing up can wait til later and it doesn't matter that the front room is a bit of a mess after Tori goes to bed. I've been winding myself up something silly the last few days and I just know it's been winding OH up as well.

Thank you for pointing out that I need to slow down a bit and just relax. The world won't fall apart.

Great post xxx

Josie @Sleep is for the Weak said...

This was absolutely what I needed to hear today, thank you. Think I could do with on of those signs for my wall!! xx

Anonymous said...

You are completely right. We all need to slow down. I'm trying to teach myself that - to slow down and enjoy the moments now, and not rush forward thinking of the future. The future will come faster if I learn to enjoy the present.
Loved this.

Unknown said...

We all need to slow down from time to time and really focus on the things that matter and take a good look at the world around us. I read this poem on a camping website of all places this evening and thought it rather apt. It's the poem from Four Weddings and a Funeral by WH Auden.

What is this life if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see. when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

Pity John Hannah isnt here to read it! x

libertyfallsdown said...

Oh to slow down for a couple of hours and read some of my book backlog! That would be just lovely :) Great post!