The Rush

How many times each day do you feel as though you are in a rush? If you are like me, you might have chuckled and thought "all the time". In a rush to get to take a shower to start the day, in a rush to get to an appointment or meeting, in a rush to finish your day at work, so you can rush to the gym, so you can rush through your workout, so you can rush home to eat and get ready to do the rushing all over again tomorrow. It is a characteristic that most people have developed throughout the years. Interestingly enough we aren't just rushed to get through the tasks of the day, we are rushed to get to the future. When thinking deeper on that, we are rushed to have the lives that we want, or desire all while we are missing the lives that we have. We are rushing toward an end, but isn't the end just death. Why are we rushing? What is the benefit to the rush? Maybe we can get things done faster, maybe we can skip the mundane, mess and mad aspects of life. I think however that when you rush often, you learn the rush. You are unable to slow down and enjoy the amazing, memorable and precious moments in life.

I myself am probably the most guilty of the rushing mentality. I rushed high school to get to college, I rushed summers to get to hockey seasons, and more regrettably I rush my first year of professional hockey to get to the next. I myself have recognized that, I do not want to do that again. I read a quote that states essentially that God is not in a rush, his timing in perfect and will bring you what you need, even if it isn't what you think you need, the worst that can come of it is a lesson. When you try and rush Gods timing, that is when you feel the feelings of anxiety, worry and stress. I can say that my entire year was full of anxiety, worry and stress. I can say that there were times that I lived in the moment, but always in the back of my mind was the rush to get somewhere else. You may be in this same situation, for example rushing through the stages of your relationship to get to marriage, or rushing through the beginning stages of first starting to work out, and expecting to be in further along level of physical shape. The rush to the future stems from not being content with the present. So let's change, let's take small steps everyday to make our presents better, more enjoyable and more rewarding so we are able to live each day for that day, not fixated on the future and the rush to get there.

The first way to stop rushing is to recognize why we are rushing. As for myself I rush because I feel pressure, I feel competition, I feel the need for control, and because I have learned the rush. Ask yourself why you are rushing?

As everyone's rush is different, everyones solution is different. I have listed a few of my thoughts on how we can start, no matter our rush, to slow down and enjoy. Maybe once we do slow down, we will realize that we are in the journey that we desire and want, maybe we will experience more feelings of joy, love or reward.

Steps to slow the rush:

1) Take time for yourself

Example: Clean your room, paint your nails, take a long shower, get that one task you always put off done.

2) Enjoy your meals

3) Do the things that you are good at

4) Compete with yourself and only yourself

5) Don't be afraid of silence

6) Go for a walk

7) Make a routine

8) Spend time with loved ones.

9) Remember that we are only gifted today

Life is in the day to day. Understand that, and recognize that the rush may be contributing to the negative feelings in your present. There are times for rushing and times for relaxing. Find the balance.