As I prepared for
my Sunday morning ritual – my walk to the farmers market – I felt myself rushing.
It was 10AM. I didn’t have to be anywhere until 4. Why the heck was I feeling
so hurried?
Because, I longed
to have a full list of tasks accomplished at the day’s close. I thought that
would mark the day with a seal of achievement. And, with that flawed mindset, I
robbed myself of the present.
See, I love
walking to the farmers market. I love taking time to soak up all the sights and
sounds there. And, I love returning home, taking a moment to admire the natural
beauty of my selections, then reading up on the best way to store each item
with care. I love patiently chopping up vegetables and closely considering how
the various flavors will complement one another as I prepare my meal. But, with
a hurried state of mind, I deprive myself of the beauty of those moments.
The unhurried
process, on the other hand, yields far greater reward – a sense of patience,
peace and joy. The deliberate process affords greater appreciation of life itself. When I pause long enough, I can see the
beauty of each fleeting moment.
Perhaps, the
greatest accomplishment then, is approaching each day with that unhurried sense
of time.
