Our Obsession with Speed

Obviously it’s been a while since my last blog post. With the craziness of the holidays, my utter exhaustion has left me in an unmotivated heap. But now it’s back to the grind. As I sit at my daughter’s gymnastics practice, I can’t help but think, Where did the last month go?

With each passing minute, my life seems to speed up. Run this errand. Run that errand. Go grocery shopping, clean the house, and wash never-ending piles of laundry. Then there’s the kids’ practices and work, reading and writing groups, and exercise. Somewhere in between, I try to fit in family and friends. And don’t forget God: He gets Sunday morning.

How did I reach this speed? And more importantly, how do I slow down? I feel like each day moves faster and faster. It’s a race to nowhere but the grave. I look around and see my peers maintaining the same pace. Does this quick lifestyle only bother me? I don’t think so.

Parents today seem more exhausted than my parents’ generation. Perhaps this perception is skewed because of my ignorant youthful bliss? But with a seemingly endless supply of social distractions and technology highlighting our every move, there is more pressure to join the rat race and succeed.

This pace is a learned behavior. I hear other parents discussing their children’s numerous activities. Living in a society of excess, it is the parents’ job to recognize this unhealthy pattern and place boundaries. No, these limits won’t be popular as you go against the norm. But showing your children that it’s okay to decline and allow yourself time is an invaluable lesson. Saying no does not equate to failure.

Fruitful living will come when we slow down, savor each moment and each person, and stop rushing around. Fulfillment will come when we say no to distractions, thus slowing down our time and making room for connecting with people.

Using this powerful word—“no”—goes against social expectations, but you cannot truly enjoy the important things in life without limits.

So do yourself a favor: say no, and gear down.

Do you feel like your life is a whirlwind? How would you propose slowing your current pace?