Life goes by very quickly, doesn’t it? Sometimes, it’s scary how fast it is.
My mind is always racing. I’m thinking of plots, chapters, characters, things to do, contests, books to be mailed, a dog to be brushed, trained. Not to mention my inter-personal relationships, and things I’ve obligated myself to attend.
A couple of months ago, I wondered if I slowed down my mind if I could slow down the perception that time was just flying by. I decided to try an experiment. I would take one task – just one – and notice everything about it.
My first experiment: making the bed.
I noticed the soft silkiness of the sheets, how the sunlight made the pretty sage green color change as the sheets billowed over the mattress. I noted the elastic on the bottom fitted sheet and how it slid onto the mattress corners perfectly. I smoothed the top sheet on, folded down the hem, and tucked in the bottom part just as I was taught in the Navy. I remembered being taught how to make my bed, military style, and how I was given demerits when I just couldn’t figure it out.
I was beginning to really notice things, to savor them, to take joy from the activity. I paid attention to walking around the bed, to moving Flash’s bedroom gate, to the carving of the wood headboard.
As I put my coverlet on the bed, I marveled at the texture. I love that coverlet and purchased it from Soft Surroundings a few years ago. It has really large tassels on the corners, and I like straightening them. That day, I admired how the ivory tassels looked against the texture of the coverlet, and how the puffy silk bed skirt shimmered.
I put on the bolsters, then the regular pillows, then the flower pillows, taking pleasure in the finished bed’s appearance.
The act of making the bed took less than ten minutes, but for those ten minutes, time slowed. I wouldn’t allow myself to focus on anything else. Nothing else entered my mind. Nothing stole my joy.
I know I’ll remember making the bed in a way I haven’t before.
Every day now, I try to take one thing and slow time by focusing completely on it. Sometimes, it’s something mechanical, like cleaning and oiling Flash’s treadmill. At times, it’s cleaning, like treating the leather ottoman in the living room, or outside, like raking the rocks. Whatever it is, for those moments in time, I concentrate solely on that task.
Have you ever tried to slow time? How do you do it?
What a great idea, Karen. I need to do more of that. I like making the bed in the morning. I always remove the corners of the bottom sheet, pull them tight and put them back on. This makes the sheets nice and smooth. It all has to be nice and neat. Of course, hubby also laughs at me and says he doesn’t know why I bother because we just getting back into bed tonight! Sigh…I guess it’s a guy thing.
I definitely think it is a guy thing. Also, I amuse myself every time I make the bed, Connie, because it has to be like I learned in the Navy. LOL.
Karen, you are a very deep thinker. I’s true we all rush through everything we do and it’s almost mechanical. I know I’m always thinking about what I have to do next and I don’t think about what I’m doing now.
I’m going to try making the bed your way.
My oldest son once asked me, “How do you think of things like that?” I guess I just have a mind that goes in weird places. I haven’t the slightest idea if it’s being a writer or not. It may just be being Karen.
When I have a lot on my mind & a lot of things I want to get done (which is always) & then feel overwhelmed, I often make a ‘to do’ list. That helps me prioritize & points out what I have to get done first (usually based on a due date). Once the urgent things are taken care of I’ll do things that make me feel good about getting them done – generally one time projects – not those things we have to constantly do like laundry & cleaning. But then I’ll treat myself & read – until the ‘to do’ list starts whispering in my ear again.
I have so much on my mind, Diane. Major projects and trailing thoughts. I’ve started keeping a journal. The rule is, if I put it in the journal, to be transposed to my computer the next day, I don’t have to worry about it – or think about it. My anxiety level has come way down.
The way you describe making your bed sounds like it would be an honor and a delight! I love the way you challenge yourself about so many things, and make us think about the more ordinary moments in our lives – and how to make them something special.
As for me…how do I make time slow down? The best way I can think of is to start a new diet….and time just drags on…..till the next meal. The days are sooooooo long!
That is just perfect, Toni! AND so right. Man, I should have thought of that.
Maybe I can pretend I’m on a diet every day. Well, shoot, I am practically.
Karen, I was just thinking yesterday about it almost being March already and how as I get older the time goes by faster. I remember being young and thinking a year took forever. How I wish I could feel that about time now. You never fail to make me smile with your thoughts. I admire how you are and appreciate the things you give me to think about. Today you showed me to be more aware of my surroundings and to mentally train myself to appreciate in more depth. I always appreciate what I have for I have been without before but I have never taken the time to look deep at one moment at a time instead of taking it all in at once. Great thoughts today
Thank you, Leah. Your comment meant a lot to me.
Let me share something else slightly odd about myself. I read a book last year that made me think. It dealt with how our brains change as we age, and how we can keep our brains fully functioning doing different things.
For example, I pretended I was blind for a few hours – very enlightening. For one whole day, I walked backward through the house. Another day, I was left handed when I’m normally right handed.
All geared to help the brain form new neural pathways.
Fun experiments. Now I’m always trying to find different things to do.
I find that if I concentrate on the task at hand & not the 100 still to do, my mind does not become manic.
Great point, Mary! I do become manic all too quickly.
Ahh, great post, Karen! I still make my bed the way I was taught when I was a candystriper in the local hospital. And I still make my tuna/chicken salad the way I was taught when I had to work in the snack bar at the same hospital. And, boy, was that a long time ago!! I can’t say that I’ve ever tried to slow time down, but I’m going to try focusing a bit more to see if I can do it. I also like the idea of challenging my brain; I do worry about not being as ‘sharp’ as I was. Great ideas.