Slow Down, Relax
I think most of us would seriously benefit from slowing down and relaxing every so often. We live in a fast paced world and spend way too much of our time worrying about things that really should not dominate that much of our time. It seems like everything today comes in a prepackaged ready for consumption package. Food, news, sports, and even relationships all come ready to go, fast! Our news is dominated by 30 second bits with bright colors and loud theme music. How many of us cook a real meal every night? Everything is canned, vacuum sealed, and boxed up ready for the stove, oven or microwave. We have Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, gmail, and a host of chat programs. Blackberries, iPhones, and text messages. We want the world and we want it now.
We lose a lot in our sprint through life. We all just need to take it slow and relax once in a while. Try this, I guarantee you will feel better. On the next sunny day that gives you a positive feeling skip class or call in sick to work. Here is what I want you to do…
Wake up early and get nice pot of coffee or tea started. Take a walk down the nearest place that sells newspapers or magazines and buy a New York Times or an Economist. Go home, pick out your most comfortable chair and read it, cover to cover. Take a break halfway through and make yourself a real breakfast, whatever you like. Pancakes, eggs, french toast, bacon, anything that takes a little time and preparation. When you have finished your paper and your breakfast take a nice slow walk to your favorite coffee shop, library, bookstore or anywhere that you feel cozy and comfortable. Once you are there get out a pen and some paper. Think of a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a long time and write that person a good old fashioned letter. Connect with flow and relaxation of letting your thoughts roll out onto the paper. Next try to find a somewhere beautiful, ideally some sort of place with lots of plants and trees. Find a bench or take a walk through the area. Really look at everything around you, feel the energy and life in those trees. Soak up the energy and warming life force of the natural world. When you have finished with this head home and cook a real dinner. Something that makes you happy to prepare and to eat. When you have finished go back to that comfortable chair with a hot cup of tea and read your favorite book. Let yourself fully sink into the story and the characters. Or listen to a piece of music without doing anything else. Try to seek out the twists and turns of the story that the music is telling. When your eyes get tired and your head begins to droop get in bed, as you slip off to your dreams reflect on your day.
During your day really try to think about the raw sensory nature or everything you do. Feel the newsprint between your fingers and smell the fresh ink on the page. Taste the real food and hot coffee. Breathe in the fresh air, let it fill your lungs and refresh your soul. Think about the real physical connection that letter makes with the person you are writing to. Try to feel and experience every aspect of your day with more than just your eyes. The sounds, the tastes, and the smells are no less meaningful than the sights. Let your mind be filled your senses and let your mind be swallowed up by a sea of experience.
Try this. Really. You will not regret it. When you wake up the next morning with a new energy and vigor it will all become clear
Welcome back to the blogging world, O Modern Zen Master!
if you’re a hippie with no job maybe you have the time for this, otherwise, get real
nothing personal
Thank you for helping me clarify my point. We all focus too much on jobs, etc. My central critique of the society I live in would basically be something along the lines of we are much too career oriented. Family and personal relationships should come first. Your point is valid in that most of us with jobs(me included) do not have time for this everyday. That is why I suggested it is something special we do only every so often. Thanks for commenting!