The Rhythm of Life

I suppose I could have titled this BUSY......but I've become very sensitive to that word because it's all I ever hear. No matter the time, day, or who I'm speaking with, it's always a part of the conversation. Maybe the world I live in is so far at the end of the spectrum, that I can't appreciate the other end? Well maybe. But I don't think so. Maybe if another word could be used to express how one spends their time, I could tolerate it a little better, but I don't think so.

Maybe if I heard words like quiet, peace or simplicity just once in a while, the word busy wouldn't bother me so much. But the fact is, I don't hear them at all.....ever. Now I realize that growing up in the 60's, it was much easier to express those words, and where I'm from the city made a point to incorporate them into the lifestyle at that time. Each Wednesday at noon, all the stores closed, and people went home to relax, go fishing, or just sat out on their front porch and drank iced tea. On sundays the stores were closed and you did no work at home. And as well, there weren't so many ways to entertain or distract back then, that there was plenty of time to just sit back and watch the cars go by, or take a nap in the backyard on the weekends. But is there any reason why we can't do that now?

I suppose one reason is because there is, in every era, a rhythm that everyone keeps up with, feeling as if they didn't, they would somehow miss a beat. That whatever the neighbors are doing, next door or down the street, we are supposed to keep up with them or they might talk about us in a not so pleasant way. But no matter the reason, I'm wondering how or why we can't slow down the rhythm a bit, because honestly I believe that if we truly wanted to, we could in fact find time to be quiet, as well as experience more peace and simplicity. It's a choice...period.

If you wanted to, you could in fact decide right this moment, that you are going to spend the whole weekend at home, in your pajamas. Tell your friends and family you're going to make it a priority to spend more down time, whether that means alone, or with your family. You've stocked the frig, marked the calendar, and are in search of quiet, peace and simplicity. If you're single, married....no matter, the plans are made and you're sticking to them. Now to me, this is no different than marking the calendar for a weekend trip away. You're just choosing not to be in the car, on the road, at movie or restaurant, and will not be answering the phone either.

Wow.....what an amazing thing to do for your children, to show them how important it is to just stop and slow down. To be able to say no to the busyness of life, without the burden of expectations from others or from yourself. Taking the time to do this will not cause you to lose your job, your friends, family or make you seem off balance. If anything, it will make a statement that we all have the choice to slow down if we want to, and invest all that busy time everyone seems to be burdened with on ourselves and those around us that mean the most. If you don't share the ability to do this with your children, then they will assume that busyness is the only choice there is in life. They won't know the meaning of simplicity or peace at all or how to find it for themselves when they are overwhelmed with life and it's demands.

What a wonderful thing to do for yourself.....and a powerful message for those around you. So go and pick out your weekend pajamas, books to read, movies to watch, favorite foods, and a heads up for those around you that you are not going to answer the phone or text. Try it just for grins.......and start setting your own rhythm in life!