Slow Down – You Move Too Fast
If you’re of a certain age,or a Simon & Garfunkel fan, you know what comes next – “You got to make themorning last just kickin’ down the cobble stones, looking for love and feelin’groovy.”
This song has been stuck in my head lately for a fewreasons. First it was used by the leader of my business coaching group, Mapping and Mentoring with Marney, a few weeks ago as a prompt to tap into ways to“feel groovy” while growing our business – which resulted in a very energizingand inspiring mind-map for me.
Next, I had three turtles visit me in one day last week – mylittle niece’s stuffed turtle, a large snapping turtle on a country road and asmaller lake turtle on the side of the highway. I decided it would be fun tocheck out an animal symbolism website or two to see what the message might be.
You won’t be surprised that the turtle can be seen as amessage to slow down the pace of your life (not the first time I’ve received thismessage - so apparently I need to hear it from time to time!) but there were other meanings I found interesting as well. More thanone site said that turtles are reminders to :
Honor and protect your creative source within.
Practice patience (I can always use this reminder!)
And perhaps the timeliest message for me:
“The turtle buries its thoughts, like eggs, in the sand
and allows the sun to hatch the little ones.
This suggests that you develop yourideas
before bringing them out into the light.”
I’ve been practicing giving myself permission to slow downmy schedule and withdraw a bit from my in-person events, classes and workshopsthis summer so that I can focus on completing several new creative courses and e-booksI’m excited to finish and share with the world.
My heemeesheemee turtle visits (heemeesheemee is my word forserendipitous) felt like a playful affirmation from the universe that slowingdown, practicing patience and honoring and protecting the time I need for myinner creative source is definitely the right path for me at this time. ThoughI knew this in my heart, I’ve been struggling with the notion of pulling back onmy offerings to give myself a creative sabbatical of sorts over the summer.
It may be pure coincidence that turtles kept popping up forme last weekend, but it’s so much more exciting and fun to see that bit ofserendipity as a sign that I’m on the right path with my own Creative Oasis™!
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| photo credit Pegasus News |
One splendid experience that came to from my new foundintention to slow down was allowing myself to simply sit on a bench and lookout over the lake after a morning walk for ten full minutes. I often see peoplejust sitting and enjoying the view at the lake, but it seems I’m always in ahurry to get back home and get to work, so I usually just give them a longingglance and walk on by.
Not this week! This week I gave myself permission to pause.(Re-reading my posts from two summers ago on this exact subject has helpedrenew my commitment to this as well.)
I can honestly say those ten minutes I gave myself to simplysit and enjoy the view and the breeze put me in a wonderful frame of mind forthe entire day. This is so in-line with Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coachingphilosophy of giving ourselves permission to enjoy small amounts of time withour creativity, exercise, relaxation – whatever it is that we’re longing to do. We don’t have to have a full hour or more – ten minutes cando the trick nicely.
What’s one small way you might slow down this week? It couldbe as simple as taking one thing off of your to-do list or enjoying ten gloriousminutes to just sit and daydream – inside or out.
I’d love to hear your favorite ways to slow down. Pleasefeel free to share in the comments below. If you'd like to receive my Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite size bonbons of creative inspiration sent weekly to your inbox sign up here: https://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html. You'll also receive a free copy of my short e-book, "Permission to Be Creative 101."
Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis toyours,
Jill
Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching
Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach
Singer/Songwriter
Turtle Lover