Don't Rush Life

NOTICE: This blog was written by Aimee Eddy Gross from Erie, PA. This is an unedited version of the blog and has not been professionally edited. To comment on a blog or if you experience any issues, please contact us at info@alexanderkovarovic.com.Thank you and enjoy the blog!

In the modern world, everyone is in a hurry. They all have places to go, things to do and so on. They have no time to just enjoy life. They race around trying to get a number of things done in just a short amount of time, and when they stop for just a minute it’s too late. Life has already passed them by. They miss out on the small things like the feeling of the sun on their skin, a mile stone in their children’s lives, a kind person at the checkout and so on.

I’m a cashier in a grocery store and I listen to my customers talk about how busy they are. They always say, “I just don’t have enough time to get everything done.” They get impatient waiting for customers before them to count out change or pull out the store card.

One day a lady was searching in her purse for her debit card and a couple guys behind her started complaining. The more they rushed her the more she became frustrated. They began yelling at her until she cried,33eed all because they were in a hurry. They didn’t take the time to find out that the woman was having a really rough day and only needed some kind words.

Nobody likes waiting in a line, but if your patient you may find some friendly people to talk to, the person next to you just needs some kind words, or your cashier is doing her best with little help. My theory is if you’re in a grocery store don’t come in a hurry. If you’re in a hurry you miss out on the kindness of the people around you. You become mean and you make yourself look like a fool. A grocery store is a good place to connect with old friends, meet new people, and build relationships with the workers and so on. It’s the small things you miss out on because you are too busy rushing your life by.

I have even found myself hurrying through life. I make my appointments and run errands on my days off. If I don’t, then while I’m working there is no time to get them done. My husband is also off the same day as I am. So we schedule appointments for him also. On our day off we try to fit in a lot. We rush around from one thing to the next and before we know it the day is about over. We miss out on things like cuddling in the morning, talking to each other, just enjoying being together and spending time taking in the day. We go from one thing to the next and before I know it the day is over and my husband is getting ready for bed.

Some of our days off we don’t even notice what type of weather it is outside. When I go back to work the next day a customer would ask, “Did you enjoy the warm temperatures yesterday?” That’s when I realize I was too busy to even notice it was nice out. So my hubby and I have decided to try to find time in between appointments to just take a ride by the lake, to sit on the couch and snuggle in front of a television show, or to go for a walk at Erie’s peninsula.

Even on working days I can find myself too busy to enjoy life. There is always house work to do and supper to make after work. I have come to the realization that sometimes after work I just need to take time to enjoy the world and people around me and do things like taking the dog for a walk when the weather is nice and just sit down and think about the purpose of life. Life is not a 5 K race. There is much more to life than rushing around trying to pack as much as you can into one day.

Slow down and look around you. What do you see? Who haven’t you talked to in a while? What is the weather like? Have you stopped to enjoy your husband, wife or children? What are the people like around you? Take time to just be. Sit still and listen to the wind dancing in the trees, talk to the woman who can’t find her card, cuddle with your loved one, visit a friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while, take a walk or just stare up in the sky and find figures in the clouds.

Don’t rush your life by. Even though you have a busy schedule, just take a few minutes to enjoy the small things. Life is short. Enjoy it as much as you can. Lou and I decided to take every other day off to just do nothing or do something fun.

On one of our regular days off we’ll lay in bed until 11 am just to snuggle and enjoy being together. We pick a day to go for a ride in the country or a day to sit home and watch movies together. On the days we are busy we take time in between appointments to walk at a park and enjoy the quietness. On a summer day I like to take a minute to sit out on my porch and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Since I’ve taken the time to slow down even for a few minutes, I find life is more enjoyable. I don’t want to miss out on the important things in my life because I’m too busy rushing around. So now I try every chance I get to slow down and enjoy life.