As promised, I’m reporting back on the slow practice. I rarely cook, but this morning I made a simple breakfast, slowly, while listening to relaxing music. And I ate it slowly, and with no phone in my hand. It was peaceful to be present with myself. And I found that my body and mind were calmer as I moved into the next part of my day. A good lesson.
Thanks for reporting back on this practice. I’m often rushing through cooking, I like to cook…but often I’m zipping something together at the last minute. I saw this yesterday and made a point to slow down my cooking process last evening too. It was a lovely change, and a more restful evening. Thanks Jeff!!! I’m glad it was a nice experience for you too.
Carrie and Community just read the post today, I appreciate the words shared in this community. A wonderful reminder to breathe deeply, slow down savor the here and now.
So much mail I often miss reading these wonderful posts, but today I opened this one. 'Nail on Head', as it addressed exactly why I miss some emails. But this one was meant for us in our fast-paced lives. As they say, R.I.F. and I remember having color-coded reading objectives in school. Ours were a progressive color scheme and drove you to achieve ALL the colors. I loved that. I was the youngest of 4, and five years behind my next sibling, therefore, I began reading early because I wanted badly to go to school too! I WISH there was more time in the day, and in my shortening lifespan,, but thankful we have books, and CAN read. Such a gift.
This started when I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer for the first time. I found I was trying to read faster, to remember the information that was important to me, deal with the heartbreak of what is happening to earth, and garner hope for the future. It wasn't working. So I found a way to slow down. I bought the audio book. Allowed myself one chapter a day to listen to while I created art in my studio, then when I returned to the house I would read that one chapter from the physical book. By listening first I knew what to expect when I read it and I could concentrate on it better. I highlight things that I feel are important with a highlighter and use post-it tabs to mark their place. One chapter a day to take in and digest, and let it settle. Then another. No one will ever want to borrow this book from me because of all my mark ups, but that's OK, I've read it 3 times already and am thinking that it might be time again. This in itself taught me to slow down and enjoy the journey.
I am also a yellow bird - a lover of words who doesn't want to miss too much of the writer's meanings.
Thank you for a mindful day. I recall my younger niece noting the distinction between a "human being" and a "human doing" some decades ago, just about the same time as a popular country song was playing, "I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun".
So, thank you, Carrie, for a slower, more attentive day when I ate smaller bites chewing them more thoroughly and made the effort to clearly see the details - not just look at things in passing. A day of savoring and touching things more tenderly - running the water slower.
My exercise was to take twice as much time shaving my face. This was a challenge as I habitually do this briskly every morning. So, hands moving slowly, breathing through the hot washcloth, listening to the razor do its work, patting dry and cleaning the bowl. Several times I had to remind myself to slow the pace. The result was great. The experience was both difficult and luxurious.
For much of the day I reverted to my usual distracted pace, but there were still more intervals of savoring.
I love the idea of taking more time to do things. With my creative writing, sometimes I have a tendency to rush it. Part of this is because when I get in a flow I just want to be moving along. However, when I find that I'm rushing myself, I just tell myself to slow down, take my time. If I just write one page today that's fine. If I spend time researching something before writing about it, that's fine.
Also, your comment about enjoying taking a shower made me laugh. When I was a teenager, I used to love taking long, hot showers. Sometimes I'd spend half an hour in the shower. It drove my mother crazy. She'd say, "What are you doing in there?" But I kept on taking long showers, even in my 20s and 30s. I had to make sure to get up early enough so I wouldn't be late for work. There's something comforting and meditative about it. I'd just allow the hot water to pour over me while a sort of spaced out. In the past 20 to 30 years I don't take as many long showers, because I don't feel I want to. However, every once in a while I do.
Two stories...when I was young I remember walking home from church services with my Gramma who did not drive. She would point out flowers and the uneven sidewalk. It was always such a treat to walk with her. She was not a woman to say wise things but she was a really good listener.
Second story...I've been encouraged to slow down and pay attention to my walking. Literally how I walk and engage my entire foot including my toes. What a change for me. I am short and feel like I have spent my entire life walking fast to keep up with other people. Now isn't that something to ponder!
Seems appropriate to use the phrase you quoted, “Friend, you speak to my condition”. I have been working on ‘slowing’ since my retirement as an educator five years ago. I was reminded just yesterday how this could also be a great practice during the lenten season-to give up trying to get so much accomplished and rushing through tasks. Your read confirms the suggestion to slow down and absorb the moments. I believe it relates to living in the Now. ❤️
I wish every "yellow bird" at school grew up to become such a prolific poet and songwriter!
Speed is a bad measure of quality for actions which involve our hearts and minds.
This essay is beautiful, and in a sense, "it speaks to my condition".
***
My little practice: print out a long article and read it with pencil in hand instead of skimming it online. At work, be focused, immune to distractions, but not in a hurry. Take walks in the woods; nothing helps sort out thoughts better.
Thank you for your wise opinions. I almost always agree with your point of view (except for euchre). And I agree, unless you are a race car, speed is not the answer-understanding is
I'm the one who feels the need to finish quickly - as if I'm in a race. I don't have trouble reading but I want to be on to the next book or next thing. I wonder if this has something to do with a lifetime of messages about not being good enough and questions about why I didn't do better. Everything was always measured against some impossible to achieve standard. 🤷
My life currently feels on pause as I recover from a total knee replacement. Part of me wants to zip through rehab (currently in a rehab facility) so I can get home to my puppies and my own bed. Common sense (and one of the physical therapists) says to take advantage of the pause and heal well so once I'm home I will be ready to take on the world again. I think I may just listen to common sense and the physical therapist and hope I'm able to drive in April to attend one of your concerts nearby. Namaste!
And so I set aside today’s to dos and look out my windows, past my windowsill arrangement of glass, glowing amber, greens, and blues. Outside this window hangs a ruby colored glass heart from Mexico, which continues Carrie’s message of love for self and the world. The sunlit bare limbs of the Japanese maple lift arms and bend lithe bodies. But, significantly, there are no “head” shapes in these trees. The message: think, plan and agonize less, breathe more. Thank you, Carrie!
Thank you for not only this encouraging piece but also for the opportunity you gave Denise and me to slow down at Shallowford Presbyterian’s “The Beautiful Not Yet” retreat this past Saturday. What a joyful and creative experience!
I wonder if you’ve heard of this book:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World https://a.co/d/1o62gAY
Hi Joel, I just put a hold on it at my local library. It sounds very good, and timely in our current era.
As promised, I’m reporting back on the slow practice. I rarely cook, but this morning I made a simple breakfast, slowly, while listening to relaxing music. And I ate it slowly, and with no phone in my hand. It was peaceful to be present with myself. And I found that my body and mind were calmer as I moved into the next part of my day. A good lesson.
Thanks for reporting back on this practice. I’m often rushing through cooking, I like to cook…but often I’m zipping something together at the last minute. I saw this yesterday and made a point to slow down my cooking process last evening too. It was a lovely change, and a more restful evening. Thanks Jeff!!! I’m glad it was a nice experience for you too.
Carrie and Community just read the post today, I appreciate the words shared in this community. A wonderful reminder to breathe deeply, slow down savor the here and now.
So much mail I often miss reading these wonderful posts, but today I opened this one. 'Nail on Head', as it addressed exactly why I miss some emails. But this one was meant for us in our fast-paced lives. As they say, R.I.F. and I remember having color-coded reading objectives in school. Ours were a progressive color scheme and drove you to achieve ALL the colors. I loved that. I was the youngest of 4, and five years behind my next sibling, therefore, I began reading early because I wanted badly to go to school too! I WISH there was more time in the day, and in my shortening lifespan,, but thankful we have books, and CAN read. Such a gift.
This started when I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer for the first time. I found I was trying to read faster, to remember the information that was important to me, deal with the heartbreak of what is happening to earth, and garner hope for the future. It wasn't working. So I found a way to slow down. I bought the audio book. Allowed myself one chapter a day to listen to while I created art in my studio, then when I returned to the house I would read that one chapter from the physical book. By listening first I knew what to expect when I read it and I could concentrate on it better. I highlight things that I feel are important with a highlighter and use post-it tabs to mark their place. One chapter a day to take in and digest, and let it settle. Then another. No one will ever want to borrow this book from me because of all my mark ups, but that's OK, I've read it 3 times already and am thinking that it might be time again. This in itself taught me to slow down and enjoy the journey.
Yes, that wonderful book is just too dense to push through. And there’s a lesson for us to apply broadly.
Thank you.
I am also a yellow bird - a lover of words who doesn't want to miss too much of the writer's meanings.
Thank you for a mindful day. I recall my younger niece noting the distinction between a "human being" and a "human doing" some decades ago, just about the same time as a popular country song was playing, "I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun".
So, thank you, Carrie, for a slower, more attentive day when I ate smaller bites chewing them more thoroughly and made the effort to clearly see the details - not just look at things in passing. A day of savoring and touching things more tenderly - running the water slower.
My exercise was to take twice as much time shaving my face. This was a challenge as I habitually do this briskly every morning. So, hands moving slowly, breathing through the hot washcloth, listening to the razor do its work, patting dry and cleaning the bowl. Several times I had to remind myself to slow the pace. The result was great. The experience was both difficult and luxurious.
For much of the day I reverted to my usual distracted pace, but there were still more intervals of savoring.
Slowly thank you!
I love the idea of taking more time to do things. With my creative writing, sometimes I have a tendency to rush it. Part of this is because when I get in a flow I just want to be moving along. However, when I find that I'm rushing myself, I just tell myself to slow down, take my time. If I just write one page today that's fine. If I spend time researching something before writing about it, that's fine.
Also, your comment about enjoying taking a shower made me laugh. When I was a teenager, I used to love taking long, hot showers. Sometimes I'd spend half an hour in the shower. It drove my mother crazy. She'd say, "What are you doing in there?" But I kept on taking long showers, even in my 20s and 30s. I had to make sure to get up early enough so I wouldn't be late for work. There's something comforting and meditative about it. I'd just allow the hot water to pour over me while a sort of spaced out. In the past 20 to 30 years I don't take as many long showers, because I don't feel I want to. However, every once in a while I do.
Two stories...when I was young I remember walking home from church services with my Gramma who did not drive. She would point out flowers and the uneven sidewalk. It was always such a treat to walk with her. She was not a woman to say wise things but she was a really good listener.
Second story...I've been encouraged to slow down and pay attention to my walking. Literally how I walk and engage my entire foot including my toes. What a change for me. I am short and feel like I have spent my entire life walking fast to keep up with other people. Now isn't that something to ponder!
Seems appropriate to use the phrase you quoted, “Friend, you speak to my condition”. I have been working on ‘slowing’ since my retirement as an educator five years ago. I was reminded just yesterday how this could also be a great practice during the lenten season-to give up trying to get so much accomplished and rushing through tasks. Your read confirms the suggestion to slow down and absorb the moments. I believe it relates to living in the Now. ❤️
I wish every "yellow bird" at school grew up to become such a prolific poet and songwriter!
Speed is a bad measure of quality for actions which involve our hearts and minds.
This essay is beautiful, and in a sense, "it speaks to my condition".
***
My little practice: print out a long article and read it with pencil in hand instead of skimming it online. At work, be focused, immune to distractions, but not in a hurry. Take walks in the woods; nothing helps sort out thoughts better.
Thank you for your wise opinions. I almost always agree with your point of view (except for euchre). And I agree, unless you are a race car, speed is not the answer-understanding is
Thank You. I love your music and songs as well as your fantastic insight..
Dave
in Manitoba
I'm the one who feels the need to finish quickly - as if I'm in a race. I don't have trouble reading but I want to be on to the next book or next thing. I wonder if this has something to do with a lifetime of messages about not being good enough and questions about why I didn't do better. Everything was always measured against some impossible to achieve standard. 🤷
My life currently feels on pause as I recover from a total knee replacement. Part of me wants to zip through rehab (currently in a rehab facility) so I can get home to my puppies and my own bed. Common sense (and one of the physical therapists) says to take advantage of the pause and heal well so once I'm home I will be ready to take on the world again. I think I may just listen to common sense and the physical therapist and hope I'm able to drive in April to attend one of your concerts nearby. Namaste!
And so I set aside today’s to dos and look out my windows, past my windowsill arrangement of glass, glowing amber, greens, and blues. Outside this window hangs a ruby colored glass heart from Mexico, which continues Carrie’s message of love for self and the world. The sunlit bare limbs of the Japanese maple lift arms and bend lithe bodies. But, significantly, there are no “head” shapes in these trees. The message: think, plan and agonize less, breathe more. Thank you, Carrie!
Your images are beautiful Katharine. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for not only this encouraging piece but also for the opportunity you gave Denise and me to slow down at Shallowford Presbyterian’s “The Beautiful Not Yet” retreat this past Saturday. What a joyful and creative experience!