Eat fast. Exercise fast. Do the dishes as quickly as possible. Driving over the speed limit. There are endless ways humans are obsessed with going fast. And a lot of times doing things quickly ends up badly. A tummy ache. A pulled hamstring. A broken plate. Or a speeding ticket. To what end? Most of life’s experiences blow right by us and we don’t even realize it. We think we are being productive.
It’s much harder to go slow. But with slow comes awareness. Mental and physical acuity. Discovery.
Don’t believe me? Go for a walk in your neighborhood at quarter speed. Stroll with your arms behind your back. Go for an hour. Don’t focus on your speed. Just walk.
What did you notice? I bet you saw something you’ve never seen before. I bet you had an aha moment where you realized something or gained clarity on something that was bothering you. What did you hear? A piano being played or a bird singing. I bet you felt restored instead of depleted when you were done.
There is a time and place for going fast. Like a race or a hackathon. But slowing down allows us to listen, observe, and learn. It helps us to be more precise and attuned. It also helps ensure that life isn’t just blowing past us or rather that we aren’t just blowing past life.
