We're seeing a lot of
interest these days in slowing down the aging process. We take Human Growth
Hormones and state of the art vitamins. We take power walks and veggie juices.
But how many of us take our time?
There's a new time-release
super-food-for-thought supplement that I've been chewing on lately: "The more I
take my time, the more time I have to take." This may boggle the mind for a
moment, but a quick review of Einstein and physics will help it make sense. Time
is relative, and how fast or slow I experience its passing depends entirely on
my state of mind. The presence of peace is found in the absence of rushing, and
my peace of mind clearly depends on my slowing myself down.
Do I want peace of mind?
Is it a priority? Well, yes, it is…but first…
…the 'but first' is the
source of all my suffering.
We live in a culture that
any semi-sane observer from another planet would diagnose as having a massive
and widespread case of Attention Deficit Disorder. With our DSL connections,
microwaves, speed dialings, and multitudes of time saving technological devices,
we still are the most frantically rushed and least present civilization ever to
grace this planet.
I am a businessman, or, on
more days than I like to admit, a busyness-man. I plow through my list of
to-do's, emails, phone calls and errands with adrenaline as my taskmaster. My
Higher Self whispers, "Please, take a breath, pause, slow down, relax the pace,
let in some Grace." I hardly hear it, let alone heed it. Time is money. There's
too much blood pumping through my veins to listen to a still, small voice.
I move too fast. I
multi-task. Multi-tasking insures that, with my attention divided, I am not
totally present to anything, especially myself. While brushing my teeth I check
my email. While talking on the phone I exercise on my rebounder. I rarely sit
still. I feel like I'm on a treadmill. ADD is not just for kids anymore.
People in the twelve steps
often say to a newcomer: "Have a slow recovery." What's that about?
I am an addict. Speed is
the drug. It's regularly injected into my daily life. Now I don't want to sound
like I'm not taking responsibility, but it's a pretty popular and approved of
substance in this society. It's easy to obtain. Teachers at school pushed it, my
parents role modeled it, and I see people under its influence everywhere I go.
These days slowing down
and noticing the roses, let alone smelling them, is something many are putting
off till retirement.
"The more I take my time,
the more time I have to take." Could that be true? When I operate from the
premise that there isn't enough time, there does indeed seem to be a scarcity of
the stuff. But when I relax and go about my business as if there is an abundance
of time, well, you get the picture. Time warps and bubbles to accommodate our
picture of reality. Time, like beauty, is in the mind of the beholder.
Like most external drugs,
speed works by stimulating the body to produce its own drugs. Adrenaline is what
gets manufactured in the body shop when the reptilian part of the brain
perceives danger. It pumps us up with energy and gets us poised for fighting or
running.
Am I driving, or being
driven? When on speed, who cares! Acceleration is happening and that's all that
matters. Never mind that I'm moving much too fast to recognize that it's my fear
pressing down on the accelerator.
When I am rushing I am
running scared, and I am letting fear run the show.
To be honest, a part of me
gets off on the power surge that adrenaline produces. How stimulating, to be
running around in a semi-manic state, getting things checked off my to-do list
in record time. My ego inflates with a sense of importance. If I am busy, I must
be a valid person. Worth comes from performance and accomplishment, doesn't it?
Speed kills. It kills the
joys of the journey, the hope of peace, and the satisfaction in being present,
moment-to-moment. Speed screams, "Just get there, somewhere, anywhere- anywhere
will do, whatever the cost!" Love whispers, "Enjoy the journey, for that is all
there is."
Maybe smelling the roses
is not something I can afford to procrastinate. Maybe, in the Big Picture,
enjoying the journey is the point of it all.
When we value peace we
certainly will have it.
I'd like to close with one
of my favorite poems about slowing down:
"Keeping Quiet"
by Pablo Neruda
And now we will count to
twelve
and we will all keep
still.
For once on the face of
the earth
let’s not speak in any
language,
let’s stop for one
second,
and not move our arms so
much.
It would be an exotic
moment
without rush, without
engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fisherman in the cold
sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering
salt
would look at his hurt
hands.
Those who prepare green
wars,
wars with gas, wars with
fire,
victory with no
survivors,
would put on clean
clothes
and walk about with
their brothers
in the shade, doing
nothing.
What I want should not
be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is
about,
I want no truck with
death.
If we were not so
single-minded
about keeping our lives
moving,
and for once could do
nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this
sadness
of never understanding
ourselves
Perhaps the earth can
teach us
as when everything seems
dead
and later proves to be
alive.
Now I’ll count up to
twelve,
and you keep quiet and I
will go.
About the Author
Scott Kalechstein, M.D.T.
(Modern Day Troubadour) lives in Marin, California and lightens and opens heart
and minds for a living. He can be found sharing his musical, ministerial,
speaking, comedic and healing gifts at conferences, businesses, churches, and
individuals around the world. To be placed on Scott’s email list, send a hello
to scott@scottsongs.com
, or visit www.scottsongs.com
for more inspiration, laughter, song samples, and information.
