One evening, while taking out my recycling, I stumbled across this little guy making his way up or down or perhaps around one of the bottles. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen a live snail--I do enjoy French cuisine--but I took his presence to be a personal reminder to slow down.
The way we communicate, the various ways we travel, how we process information, the pace at which we work and even the pace at which we socialize has increased dramatically over the past few decades. I did not understand why some people referred to life as a rat race when I was a youngster, but I certainly understand now.
The pressure to keep up with the world around us is heavy. The pressure to stay ahead is mind-numbing.
Life is not fulfilled but constantly keeping up or getting ahead. From this stems worry, stress, anxiety and tension that leads to ill effects on your physical and emotional state that not only spells bad news for you, but bad news for the health of the relationships you value.
Sometimes, it's good to be a snail. In fact, I would argue that removing yourself from the race and unplugging yourself from the digital world at least for twelve hours a week is vital to maintaining a happy and healthy life.
There are so many wonderful things, great and small, elaborate and simple to be grateful for that we rarely take notice of, let alone stop to fully appreciate.
Two facts reign true for each of our lives and those are that we will be born and we will die. The life we live in between should not be a constant race.
Slow down from time to time. Take in the world. Take in your friends and loved ones. Celebrate your life now. There will come a time when what you've achieved and the advantage or privilege you've gained will not matter.
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