I have always been the sort of person that rushes from task to task or event to event, always thinking about the next thing I have to do in the midst of doing the current task at hand. As a result I have missed a great many things in life, and never took much joy in the things I was doing, because I was simply doing them just to get as many things done as I could. There would also be times that I would get so overwhelmed that I would shut down and lock myself in my room for days and just watch whatever mindless show happened to be on and just zoned out and thought about nothing.
Over the past year or so I have made a commitment to myself to just slow down. Not let life pass me by, I am 22 years old now, before I know it I will be 40 years old, and I do not want to look back over my life and realize I rushed through everything and didn’t look up from the path I was on to see how blue the sky is or feel the sun on my face. I don’t want to look back and think “I wish I could go back and live that over so I could actually enjoy it”.
Life is the journey, not the destination.
Slow life and the AA way: I don’t talk much about my actual experiences in AA with people that I am not exceptionally close to, or in the program themselves. Mostly because this is a private thing to me, and being an already private person it is important to me to keep it close to my heart. Not so say that I have an issue with people knowing, clearly or I wouldn’t be including this… at any rate, I will say, I have been sober for five and a half years. Counting back, that would make me 17 when I sobered up. I am eternally grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn the things that I am learning now at such a young age. It has not only saved my life but given me a new, happy one. I am not perfect, but as they say, it’s about progress, not perfection.
The reason I include this, simply stated, is because without it I would not have even thought to simplify and slow down. There is a saying in the program that goes “One day at a time”. Normally we say this when someone is going through a hard time, and the meaning is, to look only at the day ahead of you. You can do anything just 24 hours at a time. I am not normally for kitschy sayings or slogans, but in the early stages of my sobriety it kept me going. Now, five years later, I see it in a whole new light. It is not only applicable in times of hardship, but rather, a modus operandi. I like to live only in this day. I plan for the future, but live in today. But I also think this could be changed; one hour, one minute, one moment at a time. Live in the moment, because as the saying goes, it will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Show up. Be present. Good things will come your way if you’re there to get them. All it takes is getting yourself there.
A slow vegetarian: naturally I can’t make it through something of this sort without discussing being a vegetarian. This is not because I want to change the world and convert everyone to a meat-free diet. It’s not for everyone, and each person should do what’s right for them.
For me this has been the second most life changing decision I have made. Thanks to conscientious eating my body, mind and spirit have done a complete 180. I could write volumes about this. But I won’t, today. Over time I have developed an appreciation and love for everything alive in this world. I feel apart of something large. People think that being a vegetarian is simply a diet choice. Its more than that, it is a life choice. The decision to eat only whole, real foods, and learning about what it takes to grow and create these things has given me an appreciation for the majesty of this world.
Drive in the slow lane.
Ride a bike instead of driving.
Over the past year or so I have made a commitment to myself to just slow down. Not let life pass me by, I am 22 years old now, before I know it I will be 40 years old, and I do not want to look back over my life and realize I rushed through everything and didn’t look up from the path I was on to see how blue the sky is or feel the sun on my face. I don’t want to look back and think “I wish I could go back and live that over so I could actually enjoy it”.
Life is the journey, not the destination.
Slow life and the AA way: I don’t talk much about my actual experiences in AA with people that I am not exceptionally close to, or in the program themselves. Mostly because this is a private thing to me, and being an already private person it is important to me to keep it close to my heart. Not so say that I have an issue with people knowing, clearly or I wouldn’t be including this… at any rate, I will say, I have been sober for five and a half years. Counting back, that would make me 17 when I sobered up. I am eternally grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn the things that I am learning now at such a young age. It has not only saved my life but given me a new, happy one. I am not perfect, but as they say, it’s about progress, not perfection.
The reason I include this, simply stated, is because without it I would not have even thought to simplify and slow down. There is a saying in the program that goes “One day at a time”. Normally we say this when someone is going through a hard time, and the meaning is, to look only at the day ahead of you. You can do anything just 24 hours at a time. I am not normally for kitschy sayings or slogans, but in the early stages of my sobriety it kept me going. Now, five years later, I see it in a whole new light. It is not only applicable in times of hardship, but rather, a modus operandi. I like to live only in this day. I plan for the future, but live in today. But I also think this could be changed; one hour, one minute, one moment at a time. Live in the moment, because as the saying goes, it will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Show up. Be present. Good things will come your way if you’re there to get them. All it takes is getting yourself there.
A slow vegetarian: naturally I can’t make it through something of this sort without discussing being a vegetarian. This is not because I want to change the world and convert everyone to a meat-free diet. It’s not for everyone, and each person should do what’s right for them.
For me this has been the second most life changing decision I have made. Thanks to conscientious eating my body, mind and spirit have done a complete 180. I could write volumes about this. But I won’t, today. Over time I have developed an appreciation and love for everything alive in this world. I feel apart of something large. People think that being a vegetarian is simply a diet choice. Its more than that, it is a life choice. The decision to eat only whole, real foods, and learning about what it takes to grow and create these things has given me an appreciation for the majesty of this world.
Drive in the slow lane.
Ride a bike instead of driving.
Cook dinner instead of going out.
Spend a long time with one friend rather than rushing to many.
Love your family. Appreciate the craziness. It’s what makes you who you are.
Be good to you.
Spend a long time with one friend rather than rushing to many.
Love your family. Appreciate the craziness. It’s what makes you who you are.
Be good to you.
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