Taking it Slow and Easy

In my younger years, I took great pride in doing things quickly: writing essays, cleaning house, washing the car, doing the laundry. Whatever I was doing, it seemed terribly important to do it in record time. I have no idea what record I was trying to break, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

But as the years passed, I found my energy was gradually dissipating. Doing things quickly seemed like a burden. I made mistakes when I hurried. And no one seemed to care how fast I worked.

Except for me.

In these times, life has suggested that fast is not always best. The things I do have lost their beauty and enjoyment, because I’m so distracted by trying to finish them. I finally realized a couple of years ago that I would enjoy my life much more if I gave up on doing things quickly, and by taking it easy instead.

What does slow and easy look like in real life? It can be something as simple as walking slowly around the house or from a store and practicing situational awareness. It can be taking my time when I am my husband’s sous chef (especially since I almost cut off my finger the other day). It means allowing extra time whenever possible to complete any task so that I can fully appreciate it. It means reviewing my bereavement call sheet to see if I should be extra thoughtful in calling certain people: spouses who have died young, for example. It means taking my time to look around me at the gym so that I can smile at the people who might look sad (and they almost always smile back).

Don’t misunderstand: it’s still important to do some things with effort and energy. Working out at the gym requires both attention and exertion. My morning walks call for me to walk quickly, although I must make sure that I don’t lose my footing. (I’ve learned that so many seniors fall and break their hips because they aren’t paying attention to their stride or movement.) So not everything requires me to be slow and easy.

Why does this slowing down seem to matter? For one thing, I have slowed down. My body tells me to relax, take it easy, pay attention, enjoy the view. For another, when I rush, I needlessly burn energy, which depletes my already more limited stamina. A third reason is that when I rush, I miss so much! I nearly missed the sandhill crane family that came back to visit a couple of times recently.

But the fact is that it is not only older people who can benefit from slowing down and taking it easy. We live in a world of rushing and hurrying that seems to demand our attention, even for unimportant things. It’s frustrating, exhausting and needless.

Anyone can benefit from this practice, no matter what age you are.

You will see the world more vividly and appreciate life so much more.

Just take it slow and easy.