Taking the Slow Road

 

What’s you’re preferred mode of transportation?  Do you like to travel by plane or car?  Would you prefer to bike to a destination or walk?

 

Although I spent several years flying between Atlanta and Buffalo, I really prefer to drive.   And while walking to the store, or anywhere in town, isn’t practical for me because we chose to live in the country, I do miss being able to walk to the movies, to a restaurant, to pick out a few yards of fabric, to buy a book, or just to window shop like I could when I was growing up.

 

The slow road is generally more satisfying to me.  It takes a minute to buy a loaf of bread, but when you go the slow road and bake it yourself you get the benefit of the feel of the dough yielding under your hands, the enchanting smell as it’s baking, the taste of it fresh out of the oven all warm with butter melting into it.

 

Between the tortoise and the hare, I’m definitely the tortoise.  As a human being, I’m drawn to experiencing the beauty in this world.  The feel of rain on my skin on a warm summer afternoon.  The color of my grandchildren’s hair in the sun.  The fragrance of lilacs, peonies, honeysuckle.

 

An unhurried sunrise.  A spectacular sunset.

 

A ladybug on a blade of grass.

 

On a warm, October day several years ago, my husband asked me to ride up to the pasture with him (as he often does).  I resisted.  I was busy with some household chore that I wanted to finish.  I finally relented and was treated to one of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever witnessed.

 

 

As we sat on the tailgate of the truck, dragonflies started flying up out of the field on the other side of the fence.  They just kept coming.  There had to be hundreds of them.

 

They flew in front of us, around us, beside us and some even landed on us.  They danced in the air to their own secret choreography.  It was so beautiful.

 

And then they were gone.

 

I was so glad I went, that I got to share that amazing moment with my husband.  That’s just the kind of thing I don’t want to miss.

 

Life has so many distractions these days: computers, laptops, cell phones, social media, cable TV with its 6,000 channels, video games, to name a few.  We don’t stop to smell the flowers often enough.

 

Here’s how I see it.  At the end of my life, what will make me happier: that I earned a few more dollars or that I spent a little more time with my family?  That I had beautiful artwork all over my house or that I spent time admiring and enjoying the beauty of the natural world?  That I “got even” with those I may have thought slighted me or that I loved well?  I’m certain you all know what my answers are.

 

Slow down.  Spread a little bit of love around.  Hug someone.  Smell a lilac.  Dance in the rain.  Really look at the people you love and smile for the gift that they are.  Compliment a total stranger.  Call someone you love and tell them why you love them.

 

Take a walk and think about it.

 

 

Share what you think in the comments.  If you know anyone who would enjoy this, please feel free to share!