“Slow down, you’ll get there faster.” — Katherine King
Katherine King’s words above might seem counter-intuitive at first glance, but there is great wisdom to be found in a life lived slowly. Slowing down is an important element of a mindful life because it is exactly what allows us to be present, to experience the moment in its entirety, and to really appreciate what is occurring right now.
I have no doubt we have all experienced a moment in life where we have arrived somewhere, but have no recollection of how we got there. Often, this happens when we are driving. This is because our body may be physically inside the car, behind the wheel, driving the vehicle, yet our mind is caught up in a thought, a feeling, a memory, or any other mental obstacle that steals our attention from the present moment. Slowing down is an antidote to this experience of mindlessness, because it brings us back directly to what is happening right here, right now.
When we slow down, we are also able to appreciate the fleeting nature of the present moment. Impermanence is one of life’s only guarantees. And when we remember that everything is transient, slowing down becomes even more important as a value to embody. We may feel inspired to hug our loved ones just that extra moment longer, chew a delicious mouthful of food for a few more seconds, carve out 10 more minutes after the sun goes down to bask in the delight of the afterglow, or consciously play with our pet or child for another half an hour despite the looming to-do list.
When we remember that we have more than enough time in life to do everything that is truly important, we give ourselves permission to slow down and savour each moment fully. As the late French playwright Molière so wisely reminds us, “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”
Being’s Gratitude + Hope Journal is an invitation to slow down. By carving out time each day to practise what you are grateful and hopeful for, you are reminded that sometimes slowing down is the only way to capture what you are truly grateful and hopeful for in life.
