Make any 2021 resolutions? Are any of them already being carried forward or are they still waiting for your attention on a list some where?

My preferred word for them is priorities.  

New Years' resolutions to me are something I aspire to do while priorities are something I need to get done (and sooner than later hopefully). Labels really do matter and for me, history indicates I have been fairly successful at ignoring resolutions ? and ditto for completing goals I deem as priorities.

Whatever you call your good intentions, I believe that most of us could benefit from committing to slowing down a bit. We need to keep in mind that today's fast paced world is constantly encouraging:

  • ??‍♀️our hurriedness, 
  • ??‍?our "gotta be doing something all the time" mindset and 
  • ?our chronic exhaustion.

If you agree with me, there's a bulk load of reliably researched articles to be found on how we are hurting our physical and mental health with our 90 mph life styles.  For starters, I found this to be a pretty good one on the subject: "Slow Down: Hurry is Silently Ruining the Life You Want."

All of us can likely benefit from slowing down in all aspects of our lives and staying full attentive to the moment at hand that we are living right now.  The benefits are almost instant and endless in number -- Our communications and relations with others will improve, the quality of whatever we do can only improve with reduced hurriedness and we will just feel better when we get ourselves off our self-imposed "gotta stay busy" treadmills.

I actually started slowing myself down many moons ago when I finally accepted the damage chronic hurriedness was doing to my mental and physical health not to mention to those around me. A little self-audit I stop and ask myself several times each day (because I need the reminders!) goes something like this:

  • ❓Am I totally focused on the moment at hand?
  • If I'm in a hurry to finish and if so, why?  Is my hurriedness for good reason or am I unnecessarily in a "hurry up and move on to the next thing" mode?
  • ❓What's the worse that could happen if I took the time to complete the task, phone call, exercise or whatever at hand a bit more slowly and attentively?

I also realized long ago how exhausting it can be just being around certain fast-paced, hurried personalities.  These folks are usually explaining (in all too much detail) how very busy they are and how there's just no time for doing this or that.  No doubt I am guilty of doing the same and my apologies to anyone I have exhausted with my chaotic hurriedness.  As for all the current chronically hurried individuals out there, let's hope they realize the true value of slowing things down sooner than later.  Sadly, none of us will ever be able to regain the many invaluable moments and memories lost because we were living our days too fast and always feeling "too busy."

Slowing things down across the board has truly been one of the best gifts I've ever given myself and my relationships.  But with that said, it doesn't mean I don't still have room to keep on improving my efforts to avoid rushing through the living of my days. I can and I have made practicing unhurriedness an ongoing daily "priority" for 2021. How about you?

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About the author 

Nancy Byerly Jones

Nancy Byerly Jones and her husband reside on their mountainside ranch (“Little Hee Haw Farm”) with an energetic “family” of horses, donkeys (large and miniature), dogs and cats. Their favorite pastime is sharing the joy and fun of their animals and ranch life with their family, friends and clients.

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