People begin speeding up this time of year, flying through their days as though they are pressing the gas pedal to the floor when it is already floored. There seems to be a need of many people to live in a near constant state of busy-ness. But just how much of their doing is really necessary? They want to be distracted in order to ignore those parts of themselves that they do not wish to see – and the world provides plenty of distraction. They want to have every second filled up with activity or conversation so that they are not reminded of their immortality. In those moments when they might be left to their own devices, such as sitting in a waiting room, they are generally provided with plenty of magazines, at least one television, and perhaps some background music. If not, they can always turn to their cell phone and check in with social media. The times when they are faced with the anxiety of spending more than five seconds in stillness, is when they are standing in line at the store, or the airport.
They rush around, frenzied and frazzled, in order to complete holiday shopping, attend office parties, and show up for their child’s school play. When life’s daily interferences show up, they often cannot cope and resort to drink or drug to see them through to the actual day that they are trying to reach. Then, once the gifts are opened and the resulting clutter is cleared away, the decorations taken down, and company sent on their way, they find they cannot relax. They did not take time to enjoy the days leading up to this one and are anxious for it to be over, once it has arrived. The day may disintegrate, if it did not meet their expectations. They spring into the next thing to plan and to do.
If we do not take the time, to enjoy this current moment, we can never get it back. We rush through moment after moment after moment, hoping to get to the big moment. Then suddenly, another year has gone by. Another birthday has passed. Another child has left the nest. Many people hope – and erroneously believe that they can live forever. They are sprinting through life, hoping to get to that magical mark of 100 years, or more. In the end, how would that matter if you never took the time to enjoy even one single day? If you are always striving to reach the next day, the next year, the next big event, without being fully alive right now, you will end in disappointment. Maybe it is time for you to slow down. Think of your life as riding on a train to an unknown destination. Look out the window. Observe what you see. Let go of the future and just enjoy the ride.
