Taking the Slow Road

I was scrolling through the directions for a screening simulation for a telecommuting job. The simulation had a time limit (self monitored) of 30 minutes per simulation. Ideally, the company wanted me to make decisions and notations quickly. It got me wondering when speed began to equal efficiency, when productivity became synonymous with quantity. Does quality only count if it is matched with quickness?

And what happens to our decisions when they are made without a true contemplation of the outcomes. Maybe I don't need a lot of time to contemplate. I am sure there are people out there with amazing decision-making prowess. I don't know that I am one of them. But I don't believe that taking time to make a decision is a fault.

It dawned on me that there are very few instances when quick thinking action is needed. Most of those involve emergencies (or sports!). Emergencies (by definition) do not happen frequently. And sports . . .well, my Wii has a pause button.

This morning, the Today Show featured a segment on "Slow Parenting". Apparently this is a new trendy way of parenting where you actually focus on the connections you make with your children. What a revelation! ( snort) I am part of a community of homeschoolers, unschoolers, and attachment parents. Having a relationship with our children that involves a real connection is not new to us!

But in any case--the segment got me thinking about society and it norm of *faster* everything (food, service, cars, answers). Society doesn't like to wait for anything!

Is that true of me? Do I value speed over quality? I don't want to.

I want to honor taking one's time. I certainly want the patience. And I know I hate when I feel pressured into making a decision about anything *right NOW*. I think I would be better serving my own authenticity if I stopped reacting immediately to anything that I feel pressured to react to immediately. Just slow it all down. Be a "Sunday Driver" through life. Smell the roses. And the daisys. Blow bubbles. And dandelion seeds. Drive the speed limit. Be there when I get there.

And then truly BE there.