On slowing down

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?

When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
"We'll do it tomorrow?"
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"?

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

This poem was forwarded to me by a buddy of mine (thanks, IM!). She in turn got it from who knows where. :-) It was allegedly written by a teenager with cancer.

Well, the message of the poem rings true, doesn't it? It seems like the world is moving at a faster pace nowadays and many of us find ourselves having to run faster just to stay in the same place. The demands of work, family, other people -- the circumstances of life in general -- can be harrowing. Sometimes it seems that we've forgotten how to pause, take a deep breath, smile, and just slow down. In our determination not to allow life to pass us by, it seems we're letting it do just that.

Fly here! Run there! Move faster! Life's theme these days seems to revolve around hurrying and acting fast. Sure, quickies are good, but taking it slow...man, that's so sweet. Dancing energetically is a great way to pass the time, but then, so is being held in someone's arms and holding him in yours as you dance slowly...just savoring the here-and-now.

Take the time to dance slowly more often. In other words...chill, dude.