“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” -Eddie Cantor
Today was a crazy, pull-my-hair out kind of day. In these situations, the time between getting in the car to leave for work and then driving home becomes one big blur. It’s these days in particular that I cannot wait to be home, sit on the front porch and watch the sunset. One of the perks to living in the country is that we get to experience some of the most breath-taking and surreal sunsets. In appreciating the beauty of a simple setting sun, I am able to clear my mind and re-direct my thinking.
It’s funny how much perspective you can gain from just sitting outside for 5 minutes of your day. And to clarify, I mean sitting outside with no distractions. If you’re thinking it, you’re right- this means completely and 100% technology free. No texting away on your cell phone. No browsing websites on your laptop or surfing YouTube on your new iPad. Just sitting in silence and letting the simplicity of the outside world encompass you. After a long, hectic day, being able to sit still and recharge your mind sounds rather enticing. So the question is, why don’t we do this more often? If it’s only 5 minutes out of the day, why does this quiet time evade us?
I think the answer is more uncomplicated than many may guess. We simply forget that sometimes we can be living life without really enjoying it. It takes those exhausting, unending days (even weeks) to remind us to step outside of our busy schedules and take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty of the day. If you’re a morning person, and this is when you choose to do it, more power to you! Grab your cup of coffee (or tea) and take time to enjoy the quiet before you rush into whatever the day holds. For me, I take time to do so in the evenings. I’ve tried on several occasions but quiet time in the morning just means falling back into a deep sleep. It doesn’t matter when you do it, it just matters that you do. It’s difficult at first because we are trained to constantly be in the mode of “doing”. But I can tell you that after putting forth the effort to make this time a priority, you will be wanting to do it, rather than forcing yourself to.
I love coming home and being able to sit outside and watch the sunset, without thinking, worrying, stressing or making more plans for the week. Basking in the beautiful pink and purple colors strewn across the sky. Just focusing on what’s around me and releasing all of the negative energy and anxieties from the day. Don’t neglect these times of solitude. It’s through these times of quiet that I’ve gained new perspectives about life, who I am and where I’m headed. Call it cliche but it’s true. Sometimes all we need is a new sense of focus and to be brought back to the basics.