There were many years that I worked only at one speed: forward and fast. It was all about the hustle, the quick decision, the projects that were due yesterday. I was thriving in the fast-paced environment that most companies are proud to cultivate.
When I left that job, I felt unmoored, unsettled. I didn’t know how to slow down. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I even wanted to Google “how do you rest” (I never did though). Because of that discomfort, I found another job to keep busy before I asked if that was what I truly wanted.
Changing speed takes practice. It means compassion. It means knowing that the discomfort will pass as it always does when you get used to something new. It means being curious and open to the possibilities of a different speed. It means appreciation of the little things: the waving weeds in the wind, turning the pages of a new book, the putting away of your watch, the wonder of a sunset.
In the Philippines, it’s summer. We don’t really notice it in the same way that other cultures celebrate spring since the weather doesn’t change that drastically from season to season. If you work in an air-conditioned office, you might not even notice the too-high temperature, the sky unbroken by clouds, the lethargic energy in the air.
But it IS summer. What if we can embrace the speed that it invites us to move—a bit more slowly, a savoring of perfect beach weather, a time to pause and prepare for the busier months ahead.? Say yes to summer’s beguiling invitation today. It’s time to practice slowing down.
