Together We Think

"There is more to life than increasing it's speed." - Gandhi

I am reading a fascinating book by Carl Honore titled In Praise of Slowness. (Carl, thanks for your work!) If you have ever felt like life is moving too fast…that there is never enough time…that your life is ruled by the clock…you need to pick up this book immediately! It is a fascinating journey through the Slow movement in it’s many facets and a great challenge to begin reintroducing ourselves to a word called balance, which we all desperately need.

Here are some (not all) of Carl’s key slowness topics from the book and my biggest takeaways from each:

1. Food - The destiny of nations depends on the manner in which they feed themselves. Our health is getting progressively worse and it is primarily because we eat fast and not slow. Food can be consumed when we eat fast…it can be appreciated when we eat slow.
2. Mind/Body - Reaction rather than reflection is the order of the day. Fast thinking is what we do under pressure…slow thinking is what we do when the pressure is off. Most of our creativity comes from slow thinking. Don’t just do something; sit there!
3. Work - Men who work 60 hour weeks are 2x’s as likely to have a heart attack as those who work 40. Men who sleep less than 5 hours a week at least 2x a week are 3x’s as likely for a heart attack. Working less often means working better. Things that need slowness: strategic planning, creative thought, building relationships.
4. Children - Children are not born obsessed with speed and productivity, we make them that way! Children learn better and develop more well rounded personalities when they are relaxed, less regimented and less hurried. “The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” - Plato

So how are you doing at slowing down? Are you finding a good pace for rest and relaxation or is your life go, go, go?!!!! How are you training your child to move through life? Stressed and hurried or with time to enjoy the little things? I hope this encourages you to purchase the book, but even more so, I hope it encourages you to take a look at your life and make room for not just the fast pace of life, but also the slow. After all, God rested on the seventh day and challenges us in scripture to “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Happy Resting!!!