Forced to Slow Down

Well, the last week has been a very interesting one to say the least. “A lesson in slowing down” could well have been the overarching theme — what it takes to do so, how it looks, and how to listen to your body.  I got knocked out for the count with a double-whammy of the flu (they think “the big one”) and pneumonia in my right lung.  Talk about complete achiness, difficulty breathing and constant fatigue.  If that doesn’t cause you to slow down for a bit nothing will.

Here’s one of the things that I noticed.  You see, I’m a big advocate of slowing down.  It’s a way of showing up in the world that I expound upon regularly.  That being said, what I learned is that there’s a big difference between CHOOSING to slow down (which is what I’m generally talking about) and being FORCED to slow down (which is what I feel happened to me).  The forced aspect really does leave you feeling out of control, helpless and — in my case anyway — a little fearful of what might be around the corner.

All that being said, whether you are forced to slow down or choose the condition freely, there really is a way in which life suddenly has an opportunity to catch up with you.  What I noticed in my case is that, despite the fact that I was flat on my back, unable to work (and for a self-employed person, that’s a little un-nerving), seeds that I had planted out there in the world did continue to grow.  While it did feel like everything around me had slowed down, the fact was that things were moving forward still as well.  And, by letting go and surrendering to the process as completely as possible, my brain was given free rein to explore thoughts and ideas that I would otherwise keep at bay.

So now, while I’m definitely not at 100%, I am back with a bit of new-found energy.  I’ve got some new ideas for energizing old ideas.  I’ve got some insight into what I really want to do and what sorts of structures I want to put in place, just in case I’m ever knocked off my feet again.  And I’ve got a new appreciation for what I always knew was important, but hadn’t necessarily embraced fully:  the need to slow down.  And for those of you who are wondering, even while I was out for the count, I did in fact still play with the challenge of no complaining at all — talk about interesting!  But that is another story.

Bottom-line:  take time to slow down.  Really listen to your body and your heart, take time for yourself to rest and rejuvenate.  The benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of putting a project or two on hold.  And the world really will keep moving on.