Everywhere we go, people are in a hurry. They blast down the highway like they are a doctor late for a baby delivery (probably not), they slam down the first drink to get to the next (possibly precipitating the previous?), rush through dinner to get off to something else (with indigestion). But for what? To just rush on to the next thing? Sheesh! How about taking the time to enjoy each experience, each moment?
Kathy & I recently came across this article that was shared by a local writer. ‘and then?’ references someone wanting to watch a movie or listen to a podcast at 2X speed because it was “too slow.” Apparently listening to music at 2X speed is a thing on TikTok. I especially liked the statement that “The whole attitude seems to be: Let me get through this thing I don’t especially enjoy so I can do another thing just like it, which I won’t enjoy either.” That doesn’t seem like much of a way to live, if you ask me.
Just this morning I was looking at the New York Times website and saw a link that said “The Year In Pictures – 3 Minute Read” I thought, wow, only 3 minutes? It is nearly 150 pictures (I counted but lost my place once or twice – distracted by the photos). Paging through the article without even slowing down to look at the pictures took almost 3 minutes! And yes I understand that the “3 Minutes” was probably automagically calculated based on the amount of text in the article, likely not counting the photo captions, but still. I haven’t gone back through it yet but expect that it might take me 30 minutes.
When we travel, Kathy & I enjoy taking back roads, even if it adds an hour or two to the trip. Coming home from our recent trip to Florida, we could have made it home in a freeway-filled 9 hours, but instead chose to break it up into two days, 6 hours the first and about 5 the second. All but the last 100 or so miles were on roads that pass through small towns, past interesting scenery and occasionally a new “roadside find.” Once we got onto I-77 in Columbia, it was like stepping into a cement mixer! It was nice to get home, but I often equate the freeway experience to a cross section of society. Most people go along doing their own thing, but there are always those few who either aren’t completely involved with the task of driving or are convinced that there is a prize for getting somewhere at light speed. We made it home safely, and mostly relaxed, which was the most important thing!
I see the same thing as people pass me on the road then I sit by them at the stop light.
Yep. I always say that they are racing to be first at the next red light. Or being the next person to cause an accident….
And *this* is why we love traveling in Italy and spending time in the remote northwoods… both places give you “permission” (if that is needed, and sometimes it is) to slow down, relax, take in the view, read a book… chill.
As Mary Pat always says about Italy, “how can any country that takes 3 hours for dinner be bad?”
I love that. While we don’t travel to Italy or live in the Northwoods, our at-home lifestyle centers on quiet time and relaxation. We read a lot, Kathy likes to work puzzles and crosswords, and we listen to quiet music. The outside world can be quite a shock at times!
As much we love being on cruise ships, the biggest adjustment is “training” our dining room waiter that we want to take our time, while he/she/they are used to people who don’t want to wait. The food is actually quite good, and once we get a server dialed in the experience is quite good. A restaurant owner whose establishments we frequent says that “we dine, the others eat.”
Since moving to Maine I’ve learned to adjust to a slower lifestyle; the contractors will always be a month or more out, the snow plow arrives when he wants because he knows we’re retired, and now, in the winter, most places are closed so it’s the two of us, some music, books and a movie or two. I’ve found I don’t mind it at all.
That’s the life we love and, although in some instances the delays can be aggravating, most of the time it is no big deal. It can be a little tough to come by in the city, but we work hard to maintain that atmosphere as much as we can.