In praise of slow

I am reading “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.” It’s a big, fat, wonderful book, but it’s not a page turner. That is, I don’t feel I want to hurry through it. It feels more like a leisurely read that unfolds in an unhurried way. And it’s making me realize how satisfying slow can be.

We get so used to thinking that fast is good and faster is better, to multitasking, to doing it all. But I’d like to make a case for doing one thing at a time. Just one. Just one simple thing without distraction. Without the hum at the edge, without the static telling you to move on, hurry, don’t miss anything--not the news that never stops coming, not the music that is constant background, not the everything that is pulling at us. Without the shallow breathing and the tongue tight on the roof of your mouth.

Here’s a radical thought--uni-tasking. Doing just one thing, like taking a big, fat, wonderful book and just reading.

So now...in this moment...take a breath...and know that of all the booksandpapersandblogsandmagazines...only a few will be read...know that you will miss much...and that all the time you have...is simply that...and you...can stop...the rush.