I go grocery shopping on Sunday afternoons. On Sundays, I go to church, eat lunch, rest a little bit, go out for our weekly grocery trip, and then if I have time, I like to make a nice meal for my family. It’s what I do.
A few weeks ago, I found myself fast-walking into the grocery store. I had things to do. I’m the queen of efficiency, and I don’t waste time!
We live in a fast-paced world. We zoom from one thing to another, and we try to fit (too much?) it all in. There is always something we feel like we need to do, and so we go, go go!
And then I felt a cool breeze blow across my cheek…
and it caught my attention. It felt so good that I slowed down my walking to enjoy it just a few more seconds. It made me smile.
This experience reminded me that it is OK to slow down. It is just fine to take time to enjoy, notice, and experience things. And honestly, I think if we began teaching ourselves to do this more, little by little, we’d possibly find ourselves a little happier.
I’ve been reminding myself of this day a lot lately. It makes me want to notice more and take those few extra seconds to really enjoy something.
So, the next time something gets your attention, try soaking it in just a few seconds longer.
It’s OK to slow down!
Stephanie Carroll Counseling 