fast forward

i came to a realization the other day that almost everything i do, i do quickly. i speak quickly, walk quickly, type quickly, brush my teeth quickly, cook everything on high, eat within about 15 minutes, and devour everything i read. when i make decisions, i make them quickly. when i am trying to be creative, i do it quickly. when i learn something new, i don't want to put in the time, i just want to be good at it now. it's also never a case of what i'm doing now, it's what's next.

so, what's all the rush about?

i've decided i need to learn how to slow down. the main question is, how do i break 33 years of fast habits? i figure the best way is to start simply. i've really decided to slow down my walking as a starting point. it feels weird to walk at half my pace but i am slowly getting used to it. i think the biggest reason i walk so quickly here is to get out of the crowds and the heat, but if you walk slowly, the crowds and heat aren't so bad. i've also tried to slow down the way i talk and take my time to enunciate my words...especially when teaching. again, it feels strange to speak slowly and honestly, i feel like i've suffered a head injury. of course, i can only speak slowly for a short time before my brain is screaming at my mouth to keep up.

i have to be honest and say that i've never really understood how slow people can be...well, so slow. it's almost agonizing to me when people can't meet deadlines, walk too slowly, or can't be some where on time. in fact, it's an absolute mystery to me. i think it might be the way my brain is wired or something...not that i think better thinks, just that i think more? not too mention my energy levels which at time seem boundless. because of this, living fast just seems like an efficient use of my energy. isn't faster better in a lot of ways? it makes me on time, lets me get more done and enjoy things a lot quicker. all in all, i've always thought of doing things quickly as the best way. but maybe, just maybe i'm the one who is wrong.

there is an idea which is gaining in popularity called the 'slow movement'. followers of this credo believe that a return to a slower-paced way of life is the way to solve a lot of problems socially and health-wise. the slow movement states that people have lost their connection to the natural rhythms of the world. it also states that technology may not have actually improved our lives as intended, but just helped to increase the tempo of modern lives. essentially, the slow movement is a way of returning to simpler way of life, through less reliance on material goods and money, while also focusing on important things such as family and personal relationships.  this is known as 'downshifting.'

while this may sound great to some in principle, i'm not so sure living this lifestyle would work for everyone. my opinion is that if everyone were to adopt this movement as their own, what would happen to society? there would be a major shift from community to individual. it sounds more like a cult of 'me' and that can't be a good thing, can it? still, there is something to be said for this idea of slowing down but a fine balance needs to be found. like anything in life moderation is key. moving at full throttle through life comes in handy, but i just need to take some time stop to smell the roses too.