38 percent of Americans describe themselves as “always” feeling rushed. No other warm-blooded creature lives this way: ignoring seasonal patterns, ignoring rest. We alone keep working 24/7, under the false suns of our fluorescent lights. It is as if we hope to rid ourselves of the natural world entirely: discarding not just our own circadian rhythms, but also the larger cycles of the moon and stars, the tides, the solar year. And yet, it is useful, surely, to have some grasp of what the experts call “chronobiology”—to recognize the ways in which our bodies are in fact entrained not to clocks or computers or our weekly schedules, but to the ancient, powerful rhythms of the larger universe. In the course of a day, our hearts will pound out a quiet drum of sixty to eighty beats per minute, speeding up as we race to catch a bus, slowing down when we take a nap. Our body temperatures will rise and fall by a degree or two, reaching peak efficiency late in the afternoon. Our cells will multiply and divide and replace themselves as necessary; hormones and enzymes will be produced. Women in their child-bearing years will move with greater or lesser ease through the different stages of their monthly cycles. Meanwhile, rain or shine, our attention will ebb and flow throughout the day: an hour and a half of concentrated attention, a short break; another hour and a half, another break.
~ Christian McEwen, World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down.
Notes:
- Don’t Miss: How is Your Phone Changing You?
- Image: by Eszter Balogh
- Related Posts: Christian McEwen
Sometimes I think we, humans, are the lowest down the “evolutionary” ladder.
Warm-blooded but thick-headed and cold-hearted.
Most cruel to ourselves, our souls.
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well stated (unfortunately)
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I’m retired and there are still many times when I feel rushed.
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And me, not retired, squarely in the Rush vortex… 🙂
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My father in law was retired for 20 years and,never slowed down a day. Said he would rest when he was dead. He is resting now.
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Peace be with him. I’m afraid I believe and act on his manta Claudia.
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I think we all will. Or should…
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Now…
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It’s crazy David. We all know this at some level, yet we continue driven by competiveness… or stupidity or something. ❤
Diana xo
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Smiling. So true Diana. “Or Something”
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‘go slow.’ my kinder class mantra.
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That’s it…
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And that is why I love to teach yoga. It reminds us at it transforms us … Even if for a hour or two. 💛
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An that hour or two, bliss.
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Each time I come home to find my dog lying on the couch yet again ha, I say to myself, “Which one of us is smarter?”
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Oh, that’s so true Karen.
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We know this, and yet we beat our chests and proudly ‘play hurt’…we’re the champions. Until we’re not. Bam.
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Yes, so true. Bam is right, and then, too late. Pow.
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This hard truth is brought home to me every time we go away on vacation. I get into a ‘natural’ rhythm..waking when the sun spills across the windowsill, easing into the morning on a wave of birdsong, eating when I’m hungry rather than at the appointed ‘lunch hour,’ and so forth. I delight in the respite and tell myself I will carry the lessons home with me. And I do…then I drop them at the threshold with the rest of my luggage and jump back into the rushing current….
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Beautifully captured Lori. I can feel this transition and back.
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Thank you for this reminder to wonder about today.
Rhythms…
Life is a dance
I’ll pay attention to the music
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Sounds like a very good plan. Thanks Jessica.
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
How true & sad this is!! Our reality!
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Uh, I should read this more often. One of the great questions in my life. Why do I urge myself so much???
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Oh, so me too!
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