Wait a minute
- Karen Wilson: Family Corner
- July 18, 2018
- 1311
I have found myself pausing by our paths and at the edges of our woods frequently this week. Ripe black raspberries hang on vines every few steps. I just have to stop and enjoy them as I find them. They won’t last long.
Although I get to most destinations with slightly purple lips and stains on my fingers, they are a fine reminder to slow down.
Often my chores have me moving quickly through the farm, but taking the time to enjoy the sweetness of it all really should be a priority as well. If I can’t revel in the joys of my lifestyle, I should consider other options.
So I try to make a conscious effort to savor the joys of life as I go. It’s just too easy to miss the good parts in the frenzy of getting things done.
Our lambs will only be little for a short time, so petting them and spending time with them needs to happen now before they get bigger. The antics of our chicks will soon morph into the unique behavior of chickens. I’ll miss those fast-moving, little legs if I don’t take note now.
The same goes for children. As my just adult and nearly so sons work beside me, I’m glad I get to enjoy lots of time with them as they grow. If you have young ones at home, spend loads of time with them. Twenty years really isn’t all that long.
Take time to sit on the back porch and watch the world go by. A few minutes or an hour away from productivity won’t matter that much. Actually, doing so will most likely make you more productive and efficient once you resume your other activities.
Sit around a campfire. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Throw a line in the water for a fish. Snow will fly soon enough and drive us indoors.
What do you need to slow down for this week? Could you stop and chat with a neighbor, help someone with a project, or smile and wave? Are you doing the things that restore you?
We can find ourselves seriously depleted if all we do is go, go, go.
And don’t forget plain old sleep. Statistics abound about people getting too few hours of sleep. Don’t let yourself get frazzled. Get a proper night’s sleep regularly and get extra hours occasionally.
I have a wide variety of interests and could probably fill each hour at least three times over, but if I’m in such a hurry to get to the next thing without enjoying my present activity, all are lessened in satisfaction.
Make a list of fun activities or things you want to savor. Because our family can sometimes get so busy that free time arrives unexpectedly, I keep a list of indoor and outdoor fun. Otherwise, by the time we figure out what to do, the time to do it has disappeared.
So slow down. Pick berries, pet sheep, read books or whatever the equivalents are in your life. Don’t let the good things slip past while you are busy getting things done.