Easter Thoughts

An email came to me the other day about how the speed of things around us will impose its tempo on our lives if we let it.
Rod MacIver of Heron Dance said, "We've all said to ourselves that unless we rush, we're not going to get everything done that we need to get done. We say we don't have time to plan; we've got too much to do. We don't have time to think through an objective or envision the desired outcome. We don't have time to meditate."
I had to agree with him. We don't even take the time for a long soaking bath. Or cook a full meal. Or read a good book.
And he said, "We do know that rushing contributes to low quality, wasted effort, mistakes, fatigue and even illness." And goodness knows, we certainly don't have the time to be sick.
He also said, "There's a book out there that tells about a worldwide group called the Slow Food Association. This group proposes that we add quality to our lives, and deepen our relationships with friends and family, by purchasing fresh food grown locally on small scale farms, preparing it carefully with love and then eating it slowly."
This comment made me want to ask you: What would you do to slow down the speed of life around you? What would you do to have more quality time for yourself? Let your Internet subscription expire? Give up your cable television? Make sure that your weekends off are really off work? Stay out of the car more and stay home to. . .what? Learn a new hobby, work a crossword puzzle, flop on the couch and read a good book? What?
Here's a thought if you just have to get out. . .some Saturday come to the library and work the community puzzle or pick out a DVD you haven't seen or check out the latest bestseller you saw advertised on television.
Then go to the Farmers' Market and buy some fresh veggies and cook up a stir-fry for you and your friends. Or have a pot luck with your neighbors and talk about the good old days when gasoline was cheaper.
We're individuals and one speed doesn't fit all. Tell yourself, "I'd like to slow down, and I really do have a choice."
We always have a choice. We need to remember that. And this Easter season is the perfect time to think about things like that. . . .
(Source: www.herondance.com, Rod MacIver)