As I stopped to take this photograph, I was struck by the still beauty of the hills near my sister’s ranch, and its interruption with a speed limit sign showing 70 miles per hour. I think not only about the pace we set for ourselves, but also about the expectation of immediacy we carry in our interactions with others. And, I wonder if the “need for speed” has actually contributed to our difficulty in connecting with ourselves as well as with others.
It is not uncommon for me to coach my clients on slowing down. On finding time to simply BE, and letting go of the need to DO. Invariably, as we coach, my clients describe this place of slowing down and being in the moment as Peaceful. When we go further into what helps them get this Peaceful feeling, sometimes they say, a quiet afternoon of reading, or a day on the golf course helps. Often, they indicate spending time with friends or family brings them a feeling of Peace. I have not experienced a single client who finds Peace by doing more and being less. And yet, we are compelled to keep up.
One of the most impactful conversations to date for me on the Walk for Peace came when a gentleman I sat and spoke with thanked me and said, “most people never even see me”. When I asked if we could take a picture together, he put his head on my shoulder and we put our arms around each other is a simple embrace. We sat in silence with one another for a bit, connecting.
As our lives and the world around us accelerates, the desire (and the need) to slow down, rejuvenate and connect with ourselves and those around us is only going to become stronger. Through acknowledging and addressing our needs, and connecting to the needs of others, we will feel Peace.