Inviting Time To Be.

Written By Lily Harding

I spent a long part of my life doing, going and rushing. My intention for this year (2023) is to move slowly and with intention. For me, this means inviting time to be.

For me “to be” means to exist. To exist without expectations of myself, the way I feel, and the way that I am being.

When I move slowly, I find that my thoughts, words, and actions are intentional. Walking home from class, speaking to a service worker, and thinking about the world around me makes life feel crisp. All these actions feel clear and purposeful. For a good 20 years, purpose was something that I misunderstood in my life.

I thought my purpose was to get good grades, do well in school (whatever that meant), go to college, and produce the MOST. Do the MOST. All while being the BEST. I’ve taken these past two years to redefine what my purpose in life is. A journey I am still on.

This goal of moving slowly meant figuring out what in my life invited slowness.

Activities Inviting Slowness:

  • Walking

  • Meditation

  • Yoga

  • Cooking

  • Laughing

  • Talking

  • Breathing

  • Phone calls

  • Writing

  • Arriving early

  • Tea

  • Decaf coffee

  • Cutting veggies

  • Nature

It also meant figuring out what was not serving me. What was making my life feel rushed?

Activities that made me rushed:

  • Filling my calendar

  • Neglecting my need for sleep

  • Clutter

  • Ignoring my body’s needs

  • Social Media

  • Texting (all the time!!)

  • FOMO

I could touch on each of these highlighting how FOMO caused me to rush through my shower so I could make it out in time to not miss a second with my beloved friends, or how unintentionally scrolling through social media has robbed me of hours in my day, and maybe how filling my calendar meant neglecting my bodies needs and rest time leading to a frustrated, rushed, and exhausted lily that forgot how to breathe. But I want you to create your own list: What makes you feel slow? What makes you feel rushed? And how can you add or remove those activities in your life?

Moving slowly has shaped the way I view our society. A society that is obsessed with mass production and perfection, has little room for “being”. How can we continue to implement practices of being and existing to create intention, rest, and space in our lives?

You’ve read my answer. What’s yours?

Lily Harding
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Redefining Success.
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Intentionally using Social Media.