I went from living in the largest city in the country, with 8 million people, to living on a farm next to New Buffalo, PA, population 123. I moved out of New York for lots of reasons. One of the reasons was to s l o w s t u f f d o w n . Have I been successful? Hell no. There's a ton to worry about in the city, and a ton to worry about in the country. Safety concerns and making ends meet come to mind quickly for both. There's a ton to do in the city and a ton to do in the country. Museum concert stuff your face vs. pick squash shovel mulch stuff your face. I have come to the ever so un life-shattering conclusion that life is busy anywhere. Different tasks, same hands moving. However, there is stillness where you find it and where you create it. The best way to slow stuff down in life is to think it slowly. Be methodical. Take your time with your thoughts. There's a heck of a lot of time to think and plan when you spend 4 hours hoeing corn. Seize it. It's yours.
That's one of my big daily challenges: slow stuff down. I can't seem to figure out how to have slow thoughts on many days. Don't get me wrong: I love to be speedy, but speediness is only good when it's solid and focused, and when some good slowness follows it. Making pickles is one way to enforce patience. Some take three weeks before they are ready. There is nothing you can do about three weeks but wait.
ReplyDeleteit's not the place but the person!
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