My internet speed has been c.r.a.w.l.i.n.g. this week, almost to the point that I've given up. This morning, as I post, I am hopeful that my connection will stay strong enough to upload and finish before my RSS feed goes out at 7 am.
As I've waited and waited for pages to load, I've been impatient. I'm used to getting what I want, when I want it, when it comes to the world wide web. Thirty seconds to load a page is just unacceptable. Dear Lord.
Have you found yourself feeling impatient with the internet? Or your microwave? I've stood by the door of the microwave saying, "C'mon, c'MON!" Willing it to heat my food faster.
Really?
Can anything good come from waiting?
Being forced to wait for my internet has made me pick up my pen and doodle. And I've doodled flowers and little animals and gotten so caught up in the enjoyment of my scribbles that I forgot I was waiting! Then I saw a book I've been wanting to read, so I opened it up and have thoroughly loved it. What serendipity!
Slowing down opened up two creative things to me this week...and made me think about all the ways I'm rushing. I think I'm missing out on the beauty around me in my quest to get things done.
Are you going too fast?
Today's Small Thing is to slow down.
- Instead of trying to read a whole chapter of the Bible, take one verse and meditate on it. Say it out loud, write it down, let it sink in.
- Give yourselve five extra minutes for your commute, or your school carpool, so you don't have to beat the clock to get there in time.
- Write a letter the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper. So much slower than email, but so much more satisfying.
- Hand-wash your delicate items.
- Read a book, savoring the words.
- Have a conversation without a phone in your hand or keyboard nearby. Make eye contact and listen.
Be deliberate. Choose your words. Pay attention to the speed of life and slow it down. We can take control by taking our foot off the gas pedal and becoming intentional with our time.
Do you feel like life is out of control? You may not be able to stop the madness all around you, but you can do ONE THING to make it better. What will you do to slow down today?
