Rushing only postpones:
I can’t tell you how many times I have jabbed myself in the eye with my mascara wand when I am rushing out the door. Regardless of if I am on my way to a country concert or a work conference, it doesn’t matter, all it shows me is that when I hurry, it doesn’t help. My eyes start to water, make up streams down my face, and my vision becomes blurry. I then have to sit down and wait for it to subside. Or when I am running behind because I booked too many back to back meetings, and I am speed-walking down the hallway to my office only to spill my coffee down my shirt, on the floor, on the dog, you name it. Now I need 5 more minutes for another cup of coffee to be made and a new shirt. I laugh at this as I write it, because this right here happens often, and it used to just piss me off. Now, I laugh about it when it happens because it allows me to pause, take a beat, breathe, have a good chuckle, give my teammates or friends a good chuckle and gives me the permission I wasn’t giving myself to SLOW DOWN.
And these are minor, compared to rushing and wrecking cars, getting tickets, rushing to a kids event and still not making it in time, locking keys in the house or car while it is running, there are so many things in life that we rush around for each and every day. I too still have my days where everything feels like a rush AND I feel the day is behind. The day shoots off like a rocket some days, and the next thing I know is 14 hours of a work day has gone by and it is time for dinner and bedtime.
Rushing looks different for me on a weekly basis, as I am sure yours does as well. I have also noticed for me that rushing only postpones plans. Growing up I had a lot of “plans” and timelines that I was trying to accomplish and control. Jobs, relationships, outcomes, and even the steps I was taking along the way. And let me tell you, this is something I still struggle with, as there are things that I still want to have happen in my life, which I have full faith that they will, they are just not going to happen in my timelines. Having recently turned 40, there has been a lot of reflection over the years lived and also reflection on where I am going. I can honestly sit here and say that, all the things that I wanted to happen along the way, some have and some haven’t. The beauty and the mess have been in the navigation and the transition. I have learned that there are three main answers for life, yes, no-there is something greater, and not yet. Throughout various stages I have experiences all three, as I am sure that you have as well!
I am a work in progress on this. Some days I feel like I am crushing life and other days I feel like it is crushing me. I will be the first to admit, that things I once saw as setbacks, were actually postponements for something greater to take shape, which in my opinion is where true purpose and transformation has the capacity and space to grow. It’s a matter of allowing these sometimes unexpected postponements turn into slowing down and not forgetting to enjoy the present.
