Travel writer Pico Iyer once wrote, “In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still."
We live in a time of remarkable velocity, speeding through the very moments we'll be sure to miss some day. And when we actually take the time out for a little personal inventory, we rarely ask ourselves why we're going so fast.
I certainly got caught up in the hustle and bustle that is New York City, often dashing across an intersection a mere second after a cab flew by, or racing to make a train. But when I think about it, I rarely, if ever, was in a true rush to get to where I needed to be.
As I get older, I'm trying to find ways to allow my drive and ambition to live in harmony with stillness and silence. It's in the moments when there is quiet, true quiet, that the most interesting thoughts pop up. There's a peace of mind that accompanies an environment catered to simply being.
The trouble is we rarely take the time to cultivate that space.
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