This questions was thrown at me on Monday night as we were walking from the restaurant to the opera. I took the night off from preparing for my Art Show that takes place this Saturday. But the question has been rather plaguing me since. "Do you ever slow down?"
At the time I stopped cold in my tracks in the middle of State Street (a busy downtown street). The ladies I was with just cracked up at my reaction. I'm standing in the middle of a downtown street with my jaw hanging out, and a perplexed questioning look on my face. I quickly recovered with a laugh and continued on.
As we were chatting and catching up during dinner I had revealed over the meal all that I had been up to... training for a marathon, possibly training for a 70.3 triathlon, preparing for a solo art show, and volunteering, with my friend Diane, as a volunteer coordinator for the Little Red Riding Hood Ride (which has all ready filled up in a month's time with 3000 female riders). Then on top of this I'm working on a schedule with one of my dinner companions about leading bicycle rides up Emigration Canyon for the cycling season.
"Do you ever slow down?" The question has been haunting me. With my art show coming up, my whole world is in STRESS mode. I keep on thinking that I just might need a retreat or something. I remember a while back Diane mentioned on her blog about going on a retreat. At the time I checked out that retreat and got to thinking about the idea of it. But it was mainly just pipe dreaming. I looked at a couple of running retreats that looked interesting but then again would THAT really be considered a retreat? Hmmm....?
I would like to find something inexpensive and retreat-like. Maybe a "Day Spa"? Though, I don't really consider myself the pampering type. Earlier this month I had to forgo the yurting expedition because of getting ready for this show. Darn! Anyone have some suggestions out there?
The other issue that came up with this haunting question
"DO you ever slow down?"
Am I my own worst enemy? I am creating all of this stress for myself. It's all on me and no one else. It's like one of those "Aha!" moments. It's all true and it's all my fault... Now what am I going to do about it? The funny thing is that I always classified myself the type "B" personality but it seems that I woke up from a dream and discovered I'm really the "A" type personality. YIKES!! What happened? Was I deluding myself before? WOW! Talk about pipe dreaming! There must have been something real good in my pipe!
"Do you ever slow down?"
I think I need to ponder this....
Hi Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteI left a comment yesterday but what happened? I don't see it here.
I think I said something like - the real question is, "Do You want to or feel like you need to slow down?" I think there are times in our lives when we are going full steam ahead and feel exhilirated by our efforts. Other times, the maddening pace feels tiring. So slow down and rest if you need to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit. You've been working so hard these past several weeks. My guess is that a nice break is definitely in order.
HOoray! Saturday is almost here. Can't wait for the show!
Actonbell- It's funny that you mention "I wish I had your energy!" One of my dinner campanions mentioned that shortly after the question was thrown at me. It's not always a blessing to have this much energy, but I wonder if I get it from my Mom-- that woman can run circles around me!
ReplyDeleteDiane- I must admit that quite often I am exhilirated by full steam ahead. I'm a very passionate person and believe life should be lived to its fullest but I have been maintaining a maddening pace for the past several weeks and I'm getting worn out! I think I should take a break somehow.
Thanks for your comments!
An email comment from my Mom-
ReplyDelete"...just be a "bum" more often. it's ok to sit & do nothing or just listen to the birds tweet, or enjoy the sun set. love ya, mom"