“There is never enough time to get everything done!”  Sound familiar?  We have become a society of multi-taskers.  The more we can get done, the more we are praised for the accomplishment.  We use technology, fast food, fast cars… whatever it takes to get more done in less time.  I too have been “that girl”.  Applauded at work for being able to juggle multiple issues and projects while still running a well-oiled department (aka Superwoman).  Hurry home after a busy work day with a plan in place to have food ready, get the house & yard in order, maybe get a workout in (if the plan allows), and OH YES, get to the computer for email and Facebook to be sure I “see” my friends.

Really?

As life seems to be moving at a faster pace, my goal for the last few years has been to make an effort to slow down.  Of course I can’t slow life down, but I can slow ME down.  How do I do it?  It’s not easy, and it takes continual effort.  First, I made a job change that allowed me to plan an early retirement.  This is not an optimum choice for everyone, and it can mean sacrificing in the area of finance.  But it was a choice for me, nonetheless.  Having spent the past 10 years losing people closest to me, reflecting on those relationships and asking myself “did I do all I could do?” the choice to me was easy to make.  I wanted to have more time for the things that matter to ME.  Enough on that for now!

Last night, I made another choice.  I have a part-time “job” (I use the term loosely) at a local gym as a personal trainer.  The weather has been beautiful here in PA over the past week.   I decided to ride my bike the 7.5 miles to the gym.  Of course, that meant a ride home (UP hill) when I was a bit tired, but I had a back up plan (call hubby for a rescue), loaded up the trunk bag on the bike with gym clothes, and off I rode.  During the ride in both directions, I took time to actually see what I was missing when I drove the car.  There were dragonflies darting in and out of the high grasses.  At a neighbor’s, I noticed brightly-colored orange devil’s paintbrush growing in the grass.  I saw a single purple columbine flower blooming along the road.  I could hear the birds starting their evening calls, and some, annoyed by my presence, shouted in alarm.  

As I rode, I had random thoughts floating in and out of my head.  I applauded myself for taking the time to ride the bike.  I was thankful for the physical ability to sit and spin the pedals.  I thought about a friendship rekindled this week.  I watched the sun as it started to set and was thankful for yet another beautiful day.  

In today’s world, it is hard to slow down.  It is hard for ME to slow down.  In slowing down, I may replace multi-tasking accomplishment with happiness.  I find peace in those moments of slow pace.  The tasks at hand are still getting done… just not quite as fast.  The dust on the furniture can wait one more day.  But do I have one more day with a cherished friend or family member?  Those moments are too valuable for taking that risk.

I’ll slow down.

I have slowed down.