You’re Allowed to Slow Down

Your mom is at the nail salon and says she’ll call you later, so you call your brother and briefly catch him before he walks into work. Your best friend is frantically trying to finish her grad school paper and submit it before midnight, and you’re eating breakfast on your way to the office because you’re running behind (again). On top of that, you don’t even remember your drive to work. It’s like you blinked and then you were there. 

“Everyone is always so busy, rushing around from one thing to the next…including myself,” you think to yourself. Sometimes you’ll even grab a banana on your way out the door, eat and work through your lunch break, and inhale a protein shake before running out your door to go to your 6pm gym class.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I’m just here to tell you you’re allowed to take your time eating,

driving to your next destination,

getting to know others,

learning to trust again,

healing. 

We live in a culture that always seems to be rushed, and I’m guilty of this, too. But if we’re always rushing, we don’t have time to stop and smell the roses (both literally and figuratively). Or to do anything that refuels your body, refreshes your mind and restores your soul.

You’re allowed to slow down, to breathe deep, to actually remember your time to work or to church or to school or to the gym or wherever it is that you’re going. You deserve to walk and not run.

What do you smell?

What do you hear?

What do you feel?

What do you see?

God created the people, places, and things around us to not only be noticed, but to be enjoyed. So, for today– and yes, just focus on today– let’s slow down and smell the roses.

As always, this is a piece of my heart. Consider it yours. 🦋

Inspired by Journal Entries July 27, 2023 and July 1, 2024