This weekend my hubby, Nelson, and I visited Beaufort, SC. I love the coast! There’s something about it that makes me take deep, cleansing breaths.
I love looking out over the marshes and watching the birds do their birdy things. Looking more closely, it’s delightful to watch the crabs scuttle around doing their crabby things. The sound of the ocean’s waves are rhythmic and soothing. The sand is incredibly warm under my feet.
And the view from atop the lighthouse! Wow! We watched a storm off in the distance move slowly towards us. On the diagonal, it managed to miss us and we watched with awe as it passed by, clouds full of rain and lightning, with wild winds pushing the storm along.
As we were leaving the beach after a long walk, Nelson made a noise of surprise and stooped down. He picked up a perfectly intact, brilliantly white sand dollar that was smaller than a dime. It was incredible!
Right then and there, I was awash with gratitude. For the miracle of finding this little shell. For the time spent with my handsome and wonderful husband. For our health and ability to take longs walks on the beach. And really grateful for the time we had to spend away from work, from home, and even, yes, from our pets.
Gentle reader – do you have a place you love to visit? A place that makes you inhale and exhale with those wonderful deep, cleansing breaths? A place where you feel relaxed, comfortable, peaceful?
When was the last time you visited that place?
If you are laughing out loud or snorting in derision at me while thinking, “Girl, I don’t have time to take time off….”
Let me share a new term with you.
You, my chaotic friend, may very well suffer from “time famine.”
I learned about the term “time famine” from Arianna Huffington’s new book, Thrive. When people suffer from “time famine” they are living in the shallow end of the life.
Rushing from here to there, constantly busy, harried, overwhelmed, frustrated, doing a lot, but not doing anything well.
The result of “time famine” can be broken relationships, work that suffers, and even a health crisis (or two or three or four, depending on how stubborn you might be).
What’s the cure for time famine?
WARNING: the cure for time famine may seem counter-intuitive to you.
The cure is this:
S.L.O.W. D.O.W.N.
That’s it.
It isn’t about doing more, better. It isn’t about being more efficient, effective, or becoming a better multi-tasker.
It’s about slowing down, connecting, and relating (with yourself first and with others second). It’s about giving yourself time to figure out what your true priorities might be. Slowing down might also mean just going away on vacation (seriously!).
Slowing down is the single greatest change you can make in your life. Slowing down is the single greatest gift you can give yourself. Slowing down changes everything for the better.
If you know you suffer from time famine (even a little bit) I dare you to try it.
Make some room,
Angie