Why Are You in Such a Hurry?
I’ve gotten into hiking lately, it all started with a hike to Orphan Lake (located above Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada). I bought a one-day fishing license to fish that one & only day in Canada. My friend, on the other hand was in a hurry to get back to Ohio, no reason, just a need to beat the clock. He had no job, kids, or pets to get back to. There were several off-the-side-of-the road fishing lakes, which we could’ve stopped at on the way back so I could fish, (or both of us for that matter, he also brought his fishing equipment), but stop we did not.
Upon arriving back home, and settling into my routine, I wanted to explore more hiking opportunities. Lo and behold, an email showed up in my inbox about a new Meetup hiking group called Barefoot Mindfulness Hiking, hmm, that sounds interesting. I looked into it and signed up for the first hike.
One of the guidelines of the hike, besides being barefoot, was silence, no talking at all during the hike. OK, I thought to myself, the barefoot thing I could do, but no talking?! I went and we (there were only four of us for this first meeting) sat silently on the grass for a minute or so, set our intention, then proceeded on the hike. Mind you, this is a hiking trail, (not a paved sidewalk trail.) We walked through dirt, pebbles, stones, horse manure, tree roots, through the woods, up and down cliffs, etc. and did not speak, although I felt compelled to say “hello” to other hikers we passed on the trail after they spoke first and said “hello.” I didn’t want to appear rude.
After about an hour and a half or so we finished the hike, not sure how long maybe three miles. It was just the right amount of time for me. I did feel a sense of ‘good feeling’ after completing it. Over the next week or so I ventured out in my area of the woods, and did a barefoot hike on my own. I am looking forward to doing more with the group in the future.
I went on another hike last night, five miles, not barefoot, and with another Meetup group, which brought me to write this article. This was also my first time with this particular group. There were about twenty-five of us give or take, and from what I understand this group meets a few times a week to go hiking, with various people joining at different times.
Last night’s hike was a totally different experience, it was as if we were on a mission “to beat the clock.” It blew me away to see all these people out in the gorgeous breath-taking Metroparks, just trying to get to point B as fast as they could. Mind you, these people are not training for a marathon, this was not the purpose. I asked if anyone ever stopped to take a photo, and was told “NO!” I thought that the point of being out in nature is to take ‘time’ to see God’s beauty, grace and gifts, to smell the flowers, hug a tree, stop to gaze at the moon in the sky, or listen to the soothing sounds of a babbling brook? I guess not for this group, so I make my own choices in life and will choose not to go on this particular hike again.
Why are we in a hurry? Where is everyone going? I love it when I see someone pass me in traffic like a speed demon, only to see the same car at the next light.
When we’re rushing, we are living in a state of resistance. It produces a state of consciousness that often comes about when we’re feeling anxious. It’s a lack of willingness to be in the present moment. Have you ever noticed how rushing implies a feeling of lack? (credit to Sura)
Have you noticed life is speeding up, and it’s going faster and faster, pretty soon we’ll be running around in our Flash outfits moving at the speed of light? We feel a need to cram as much in as we can and be productive, multi-tasking has become not only a ‘buzz-word’ but a requirement. At what cost are you willing to risk and for what? You’re going to die when it’s your destined time, regardless of how much you’re in a hurry, do you really want to get there faster?
Don’t you find rushing draining? We’re definitely not in the ‘now’ or the present moment when we’re rushing…so what’s it all about Elfie? When we’re rushing, not only are we not being present, we are living in a state of resistance, constant anxiety, the hamster on the hamster wheel.
Think about the word “LACK,” now equate that with rushing. What is it that you feel you are lacking in your life? Time, permission, lack of space, approval, I could go on, however, I think you get the picture. This will be for another blog, but think about people who hoard, or feel that ‘tithing’ drains their finances. Both types of behaviors denote that you feel you’ll never have enough, therefore, a feeling of lack. Deep stuff folks.
WHY do we rush?
- It’s a habit, our MO…
- To avoid, hmm, let that one sink in. We don’t want “to feel” so we create distraction
- Self-inflated egos, we fear judgments, so when we’re in a sense of urgency, we feel valuable in the eyes of others…
- We’re just plain too busy, if I had a dollar for every time I heard this I’d be writing this off the Amalfi coast of Italy. I get it, some things are a part of daily life, picking up the kids, getting to work, etc. Ask yourself how much of your ‘busyness’ is because you want to feel needed and productive?
- Unworthiness, hmm, is your Louise Hay voice coming back to haunt you? We tie our worth to achievement, therefore feel ‘unworthy’ if we’re not DOING something…
- Next, the two big “C” words: Competition & Control. Ouch, yea, look in the mirror, somewhere inside of us is the control freak that feels if we slow down, we’ll get passed by, and if WE don’t do it, it won’t get done…Hello out there? Sound familiar? Been there down that…
- Laziness, who me? Yea, you…it’s easier to rush through life on automatic, then to make a conscious effort to slow down, set an intention and be present
- Pressure to perform, from society, our parents, etc. this can come from people pleasing and the need to prove to ourselves…
- False perception, ah yes, the ol’ ‘the grass is ‘greener’ on the other side, of the fence (this can be tied to #6
So what to do about it? Like with anything in life, it helps to know the reasons behind your madness. Taking time for mediation, journaling, and self-reflection are all ‘huge’ in unlocking the secrets of what your motivators to ride the hamster wheel of life are all about.
It takes COURAGE to live in the moment!
If I’ve inspired, empowered or made you smile, feel free to drop a coin in the tip jar so I can continue working with Spirit, thank you for being you, and allowing me to serve…
