Take your time

“Never be in a hurry. Do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” ~Saint Francis de Sales

I wrote several newspaper articles a week when I was a young mom. Working from home, I also shopped for groceries, drove the carpool, conducted phone interviews, processed the laundry, played with my son after school, and cooked family meals. I don’t know where I found the energy to do so much — but I was often in a rush and more stressed than I realized at the time. Those years flew past like geese heading south to escape winter’s chill — and now I wish I’d paused more often to enjoy them.

Today, I still catch myself rushing through projects. Old habits are hard to break, which is why I wake so early every morning, even when I could sleep much later.

Are you always running from one thing to the next? Do you feel guilty if you’re not accomplishing something that others will deem significant? Do you try to “get over” emotional pain and loss quickly, without taking time to process? Please join me in slowing down for just one morning, and allow yourself to appreciate the present moment. ~CL