In these fast and furious times, I’m working on being slow and calm.
I used to be fast and furious in my single-minded dedication to my work until one day I realized that was bad for my physical and mental health. One of the wake-up calls for me was watching a scene in the movie Whiplash where the young drummer is so desperate, fast, and furious about getting to a performance on time that he risks life and limb, getting into a car accident. As he keeps going — fast, furious, and bleeding — I thought, that’s me. And while Andrew in Whiplash is mostly driven by his critical, cruel, and relentless teacher, I was driven by my relentless and cruel inner critical voice and perfectionism.
It’s taken years for me to change my fast and furious inner critic to one that is slower, calmer, kinder, forgiving, and more mature.
Do you see anything fast and furious in my images for today?
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On this International Day of Happiness, I’m happy that I can find moments of slow and calm in this fast and furious world.
Here’s what I find when I search for “fast and furious whiplash” on YouTube:
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Thanks to all who help me be less fast and furious, including YOU.
I had years when I had to be fast and furious, single mothering, going to school, and working all at the same time, and it is not my natural way to be and was hard for all of us. now that I’m through all that, I love living life more slowly and letting it unfold. love the zen clock above
I love and appreciate everything you share, beth.
It has been a long time since I have had to hurry to be somewhere, do something, call somebody, but I still have to remind myself that the anxiety I feel, about not getting enough done, has no basis in fact. Except paying bills on time. Oh, geez. Gotta do that today. Gotta run!
It’s a challenge to be slow and calm, Barbara!
When I worked in customer service answering phones all day there were times when the calls wouldn’t stop but I knew I’d get a bit of a break when I heard a familiar voice say “This is Steve.” I’d ask Steve how he was doing and he’d say “Busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.” I’d laugh and it was always a good chance for both of us to slow down.
I love that, Chris.