Thanks Amy for the sketch.
So what happens when we slow down long enough to look into each other? Not at each other, but truly into each other’s worlds – rather than fly by like a jet on steroids. How many of us really take note of the life and struggles of the people around us? How many of us look past the mask into a soul that is fighting to breath, to stay alive in a frenetic, challenging world?
Our success is measured in bank balances, business, constantly running from one thing to the next. What looks like giving is actually consuming. What looks like value added may well be destroying. The treadmill runs constantly and will continue to do so until we press stop. Until we consciously decide what measures who we are and who we want to become.
Constantly running is the perfect hiding place. The world looks crazy, overwhelming and down right scary sometimes. The faster we run the more blurry the world around us becomes and the more we can deceive ourselves into not facing ourselves or the world we inhabit.
Yes, slowing down is unsettling, noticing things we would rather not see, feeling our real selves exposed to the world is not as easy as it sounds. But what if we all do it? What if we stop and look? Slow down enough to hold each other, support each other and really notice each other.
I don’t believe that it’s about what we do as much as it’s about being authentic, being real and being brave enough to let that shine – because it will shine. We will hang around long enough to hold each other’s hand instead of a passing high five. Maybe we should try to love each other by seeing what goes unnoticed, by facing ourselves, loving ourselves and ultimately by loving each other.
Teddy bear hugs,
Tonia
