While attending my son's football game, I observed an impatient mother. Before the game, we stopped and filled up at a local gas station. As I was waiting to use the restroom, a mother and her two young girls were coming out. The mother held the door wide open while waiting for her oldest daughter, who was meticulously washing her hands. She bombarded her with "Hurry! Hurry!" then turned to me and said: "Kids! They have no sense of hurry!”
Yep, rushing and stressing—moments we've all experienced, right?
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The woman's comment to me lingered. "Kids! They have no sense of hurry!”
For good reason. They live in the present moment. However, adults and “hurry” seem to be synonymous.
We’re often rushing to get somewhere or check something off our endless to-do list. Yet in the next breath, we may wonder why we're so stressed or why our kids misbehave.
Could our children be telling us to slow down?
Mindful parenting requires us to slow down and breathe. Mindfulness as parents gives us stress relief.
There's a powerful truth in the woman's exclamation.
Recently, on my way to an appointment, I found myself getting impatient with a slow driver ahead of me. I was reminded of the mother's comment once again.
Where did my impatience come from?
It's curious that the person with "no sense of hurry" disturbed my inner peace because I neglected to plan better and had left late for an appointment... Hmm.
That quote has stayed with me for many years and although we'd like to defend that we can be rushing and still loving, I've found her quote to be true. When we are stressed or hurrying, our drive or threat systems are in gear.
Compassion—even self-compassion—is an emotion produced by conscious living instead.
Since the night on our way to a football game many years ago, I gained a new mantra to live by: "No sense of hurry."
That's the kind of life I want to live: paying attention.
Taking time to relax with my family.
Reserving a day for hiking in the mountains.
No place to hurry off to when the grocery clerk at the checkout wants to chat.
Walking my dog and enjoying his pure pleasure in romping and reveling in the outdoors.
Or enjoying the full moon reflected on the Yellowstone River—time for whatever is truly important.
What is most important to you?
And when is the last time you practiced mindfulness?
You can enrich your life by slowing down and being more mindful. You'll be amazed at how drastically it changes our perspective to be mindfully positive. Hurry is a threat of being late or impatient with the present moment.
Don't get in a power struggle with the present moment.
Breathe and allow what is.
Related reading: "What Is Mindfulness?"
Do you ever find yourself hurrying?
In that moment, are you treating yourself or others with love, kindness, and understanding? My answer to that question has been “no” and I imagine it would also be yours.
What slows me down and reminds me to be truly present are slow drivers and young children joyously reveling in the present moment.
What slows you down?
What prompts you to be more present?
Cherish these moments to slow down.
I had no sense of hurry when watching the football game with my husband on a beautiful autumn evening. Felt so good. And yes, my son won his football game, and their team was #1 in their conference that year. Proud and relaxed. Yum.
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