slow down

the snow gods have been generous with us so far this winter. the conditions of the skate-skiing tracks I’ve been on have ranged from fair to glorious, which is delightful this early in the season.

and there I am, out there pushing and sweating and panting, same as I always am: working so hard that I neglect to focus on how to be more efficient. this is the key to nordic skiing (and, perhaps, everything): learn to be more efficient. and this involves getting oneself to slow down.

slow down.

this seems to be the theme of my life these days. I’m constantly impatient, wanting things to happen now (or yesterday, more often). I am constantly urging myself to take a breath, pause, and accept that what is, is.

and that maybe I don’t know why things are as they are, but perhaps they are supposed to be the way they are.

learning to balance “what to push” and “what to accept” is one of the most difficult things, I believe, that we humans must master, if we want to be at peace. and the only way we reach that point is to begin by slowing ourselves down.

last sunday while I was skiing I crossed paths with a gentleman perhaps a bit older than I am, who skied as if he’d been skiing his entire life: smooth, graceful, powerful, efficient. on my way along the final track back to my car, I passed him again, as he stood on the side of the track chatting with a fellow skier. he soon caught up with me, made a friendly comment about the wind, and then as he passed me said, “looks like you’re getting the hang of it!”

yep, eight years in, I’m beginning to look like I’m getting the hang of it.

now if I could just slow down, pay more attention to what I’m actually doing, and learn to make the most of each effort I expend… perhaps, someday, I’ll be the one who is smooth, graceful, powerful, efficient.

perhaps.

and the place to begin is in my everyday life. to take more deep breaths, and simply slow down. care to join me?