It’s been a while since I last posted a blog post. I just returned from a vacation with the intent of having fun and relaxing. But something more amazing happened.
Of the places that I visited on my trip, I noticed that very few people were in a hurry as they walked. No one was in a hurry to move from one place to the next or trying to multitask as they walked. (C’mon! I know I’m not the only one who has tried to text or check email while walking!).
Instead, with the exception of obvious tourists, every one moved with intention, but at a more leisurely pace than what I am used to. I saw mothers and adult daughters holding hands as they walked down the street. I saw brothers engaged in what seemed to be deep and animated conversations. And at 1 o’clock, cities shut down to allow time to go home and eat with family and friends.
This observation reminded me of two very important lessons that I want to share:
- Slow down and pay attention
- Nurture your relationships
Life is too short and too sweet to always be in a rush and on the go. The world will pass you by and you’ll miss all the beauty that it holds. When was the last time you actually noticed flowers growing on the trees or bushes? Did you notice that the leaves are starting to change colors with the onset of the autumn season? Or, did you notice that there isn’t a single cloud in the sky today?
Life is too short and too sweet to miss out on opportunities to personally interact with the people who are important to you. When was the last time you invited someone over for dinner, just because? When was the last time you noticed someone in need and actually did something about it? I’m not talking about a homeless person on the street. But there may be a friend or family member who may simply need a kind word or a hug today. Did you notice?
Slow down and pay attention to the world and the people around you.
Don’t let the barriers and distractions of life make you miss out on the really important things. Getting too caught up in achieving dreams and goals of the future can cause you to completely miss out on your present blessings. You’ll look back one day in an attempt to reminisce on the “good ol’ days” only to find out that you were moving too fast to actually create those memories to look back on. . . .
My challenge to you today:
- Slow down and appreciate the world around you
- Be intentional about nurturing relationships and creating everyday memories
I hope this message has just as big of an impact on you as it did on me.
Continue to be great today and every day!
