Staying present and stop rushing
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 05:30PM It seems that in this busy world that we live everyone is rushing to get somewhere. I noticed it this morning as we were heading for an appointment. Just because we didn't cross the traffic lights when they turned, it frustrated the guy behind and he started to beep beep his horn.
Then when they turned again the beep beep started… Okay dude chill out!
I know those people who live in busy cities such as New York, it's a common noise that you hear and in fact, it's alien if you don't hear it… but sometimes it's all rush rush rush.
Thats how accidents happen. Rush from one place to another, with a cell phone at hand, and emails and texting, the world has gone crazy. Sometimes we need to stop.
i've had a weekend with no emails, or telephone, in fact my phone was switched on airplane mode all weekend and those who wanted to communicate with me could only do it through my home phone it was wonderful and something that was very much needed and its allowed me to be present. Many times we are not and we continue to rush rush rush rush and don't stop to take in what is around us. I remember a friend saying to me, have you ever really looked outside and watched the birds and nature around us? And I have and so did she and it was so cool just to be in that moment and present in our lives.
I also remember someone racing past me on the canyon roads and then racing past other people and endangering himself and others, only to find that a mile down the road I was right behind him again... I had to have a quiet laugh to myself as he didn't get very far. My nan used to say to me. less haste more speed, and I never really 'got it' until I slowed down and did something that used to frustrate me and then I took more time and I found I got things done quicker.
So instead of rushing around lets stay a little more present and available in our lives to everyone around us and also stop rushing from one place to another, lets allow a little more time for our journey, hold a conversation with someone, open the door... just really be aware of what is around us, and look listen and learn, as we may surprise ourselves as to how much time we are focused on other things and not on what is important in our life.
Have a special day!
Lisa xx
Reader Comments (23)
Thanks Lisa ,
For a timely reminder to breath in the beauty around us and notice all
the special gifts that come to us each and every day.
Hi Lisa,
Glad you had some present time around your hourse with your loved ones..
You are so right, as soon as you slow down you can get so much accomplished, and you get to take in so much.
Sending much love to you.
You're so right, Lisa!
Why rush all the time? Who wants to be first in a coffin?
So many heart attacks are due to stress and rushing all the time.
I prefer to take time and appreciate the moment: sun, cats, dogs, birds...
Enjoying NATURE is very good for our health! So, let's slow down a bit.
Lots of HUGS,
Gosh this blog couldn't come at a better time for me Lisa. I live in Sydney (Australia) and the sound of the horn honking for not driving fast enough on our busy roads is an all too familiar sound unfortunately. I'm a teacher of 9 year olds (Year 3) and as I am also 'on' all day, I was actually so exhausted that I took today off work, just to relax and enjoy those little, amazing every day moments. This morning I sat at my local cafe in the sun, sipping my coffee while gazing at the amazing harbour of ours! I took the time to look up at the blue sky and hear the birds and just 'be in the moment'. I can't begin to tell you how good I feel now just after a few relaxed hours, Melanie xx
Soooooooooooooooo true! I live in a beautiful area and have to constantly remind myself to look around and appreciate it....a shame we have to make a conscious effort to 'live now' instead of do it naturally...
Love your Blogs Lisa...so relevant!!
Hugs back to you!
<3
A Timely reminder to everyone :) Ive spent the last 10 years living in the now, i sit in the back yard with my dogs everyday, watching the birds . just taking time out to stop and breathe, LOL okay i had a little help after my first back operation i was forced to stop... however it was one of the best things to happen because thats when i really started to live and no just survive in life, to appreciate all the small things... and if i come across a honking horn i just smile sweetly at them ( most of the time i get a smile back,,,, hugs and love xxx
If there is ever a time for me to just relax and live in the moment and appreciate all that life has around me each day... that time is now.
People have always told me that I was excessively active and hyper. Ever since I was a child... mom is always saying I have never sat still. Always having to go and do this and do that...and rushing to do so. I can never just stay in one place, quiet my mind and relax !!!
As a child though, were all pretty active and hyper. As I got older and the energy still remained, I thought... my purpose for all this hyperness was because I was meant to have 5 kids... gotta be able to keep up with them all.
Lately though I have been sluggish and really taking in everything around me. Not motivated, or hyper much. Lacking a lil in energy, and not really rushing to go nowhere like I normally do !!!
However, I have been laying off the caffiene lately and realized that the past 9 years of my hyperness and activeness was courtesy of "Starbucks Venti Espresso Frapps. " Lol.... Pfft. Who knew !!!!!
Atmos
Hi Lisa,your so right i love quite time.I live in the country and take walks down to our creek my lab holly loves to swim so i go sit listen to the water run and the birds sing,spring is here so everything is turning green. It is a wonderful place to meditate,my beautiful lab just sits next to me when i meditate i think she might be meditating to she so quite. Lisa last night i realized something my youngest son Landon was home usually he is helping out at his school he 17 junior,that it was just so nice to sit and visit with him,soon he will be gone and the house will be real quite anyway he got out some old videos of him when he was 1,2,and 3 it was nice to see thoughs movies again some with my parents who are gone on to that sunnyland plane.Anyway Lisa some people are so busy that they don't take time to smell the wild flowers, anyway that is sad if they did they would understand were not here for ever.I like the small things in life. Love ya Lis
Hi Lisa, well you hit it right on the head again :) I learned a quite a few years ago that slowing down helps me to accomplish more. Really since I married my 2nd Husband Robert as he is so laid back and watching him actually made me slow down and it really is a lot nicer. When I do rush for some reason as I still will bet a little excited, everything falls from my hands, I hit my shoulder on the doors, etc. and get more frustrated and end up being late! Hope all is well and thanks again for your great blog!!
Love and Hugs, Judi :)
Hi Lisa,
You sound just like me on the roads. I get my knickers in a twist because of cars speeding. I also mutter at them because they in actuality gain very little headway and I often end up behind a car that had been speeding, getting all hot and bothered for absolutely nothing. In SA drivers drive right up your butt even if you are driving at the maximum speed limit, so that you move over onto the verge to let them pass. It is a given these days... shove over or we'll mow you over... freaks me out.
One good thing about the recession though, is that South Africans are not so notorious anymore for exceeding the speed limits. They simply cannot afford the fines. Very few people get locked up or have their licences suspended in for speeding in this country.
Lisa, I have become expert at slowing down and smelling the roses. I work towards that constantly. I think it may be an age thing. One realises how fast life passes you by and you look back at something that happened twenty years ago and it seems like the time passed in the blink of an eye. It is a very profound realisation. It's also made me realise that time spent with family, friends and loved ones, sharing good times, fun and laughter, that's what it's really all about. That is what family legacies are made of. And of course, appreciating nature and the beauty that has been bestowed on us.
Hopefully this post will transmit okay. The past few posts have gone astray to wherever.
A big hug to you, Holly and Charlie.
Jeanette
I love it when I "foget" my cell phone. It is so nice.
We are too accessible these days.
I have serious plans to get walking outside again.
Spring is springing up and I want to smell the flowers!
It's so true about people rushing, rushing, rushing... only to be right in front of you where traffic "ends." I drive a mountain road 2, sometimes 4 or more times a day, and have for 20 years. I'm always amazed at the people who feel they must pass on curves, endangering drivers in oncoming traffic. They're in such a hurry. Always, always, they're sitting in the same line of vehicles at the bottom of that mountain, waiting for the stoplight to change. It's sad when they hurt themselves on those roads, but it's criminal when they involve others. Why would any sane person risk a life for any reason, especially something as ignorant as pure selfishness.
thank you again Lisa you are so right on, about slowing down and take time to notic what is write around you. i have had been lade up 3 months with a fracture tiba and know just starting to get back out. but it nice to notice the Flowers that are starting to pop up and the robins on the lawn and the deer in the back yard.
thank you for your blogs they have help me alot
distell
Hi Lisa,
just read your last blog, how very true...we are so busy and so focused on getting things done that many of us don't notice the beauty around us.
I have made a point of stopping and 'smelling the roses'. Being a Gemini and you would relate to this , we never stop, but I do I love checking out new bugs, butterflies and birds in my yard, plus I have started reading again.
I think as we get older we do realise life is too short and is better to slow down (if posible) and live everyday to the max, taking notice of all things and people around us.
I saw you in March in Newcastle and was so impressed, you are looking so well, it's obviuos you are happy and I am so glad, as you have had a tough time...it is your time now...
Just finished your new book, wow it is marvellous! It confirmed alot of my beliefs and views. I cannot wait for the other books you will write.
I am also very excited about seeing both you and lovely Holly ( whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Newcastle..what a wonderful girl she is!) in November at the Gold Coast!!!!
Thankyou for being such a loving, sharing person loads of love to you, Holly and your lovely boy Charlie xxxx Ana Maria
Hi Lisa, I am here to ask you a question, I have been having a really hard time with the whole after life thing recently, after 2 strange afterlife dreams I had where I had died and what the spirit world is like, now I am worried about myself and what comes after death, I read that we are spirits but we cant talk we just think what we want to say to the person we want to hear it can hear it in their thoughts, but if that is true how can we think if we have no brain? How can we even have a concious or be intelligent? Im worried that when I die that is just it ''The End'' is there anyway you can prove to me that there is an after life? maybe if you could talk to someone I had lost so I had evidence, Im getting obsessed with the whole thing :/
Love from Candy x
Lisa I agree.The more we also slow down the more we will hear our angels also.i find everyone needs to slow down physically and mentally and then just maybe the earth will be calmer because our energy is calmer.
take care
Really lovely message Lisa :) I have found that i have too been doing this and trying to stay present. I often stay away from facebook especially....... im a stay at home mother and find myself racing sometimes and then just think to myself 'what am i really rushing for???' anyway take care and hope one day to get a reading from you for me and my partner :) xox lots of love
Lisa!!!! Again, thank you thank you thank you......I resonate with this blog so so much!!!! I decided to pull away from the rush that everyone else was bombarding me with over the last 2 weeks. Its been a challenge to not answer everyone's texts, messages, and FB calls......but it was so needed for me to replenish & reinvent myself for the times to come. It feels odd to not always be in the center of all thats going on, with all the people I care about online & in person.....but it was really needed. Even my own hubby who is usually so chilled out -- was in a rush, rush, rush to get things done. I had to put my foot down & say STOP. Listen. Let go.......so thank you for the blog. I just love you so much. xxxoo
In a world where kids text and interact electronically, it's great to have a digital day off and stand barefoot in the grass. Conecting to nature really makes you feel like your part of something alive. We a LIVING beings and should not forget to live. Thanks Lisa for reminding us how important it is to participate in our lives...
How refreshing to read your blog I have only just found out about you and send you warm wishes from the UK....... Many Blessings Sue.x
Wow Wow Wow Wow!
Survival of the Soul has answered many questions for me. It seems so clear now. Lisa you are such a moral person full of integrity .You kept double checking and explaining so as to not steer anyone's beliefs. I can only aspire to live my life with such integrity. I have given the book to my Step Daughter to help her deal with her grief since her Mother's passing and believe it will truly give her some peace. Bravo Lisa!
Karen Crawley xox
Lisa
Just finished "Survival Of The Soul" this evening. I am so awed by your gifts. The book was an incredible read and left me searching within for answers to my own life's journey. Thank you for sharing your blessings in such a powerful way.