Certain places are ripe for spiritual practice.
Quiet rooms with low lighting and gorgeous altars.
Spacious sanctuaries filled with devoted practitioners.
Long ribbons of asphalt populated with speeding vehicles.
Wait, what?
Yup, that’s what I said. Everywhere is a place for spiritual practice, so it’s not surprising that our recent 2 ½ month road trip provided me with some primo opportunities for spiritual revelation.
Like the highway.
Highways are for going fast, fast, fast. At least, that’s the idea. But we were driving an eleven-thousand-pound travel van, and we quickly discovered that going fast, fast, fast was not the optimal way to travel.
Not to say that we didn’t start out going fast. We did. Other vans and RV’s were doing it, why not us?
Because it was stressful.
Early into the trip, we realized that going just a wee bit slower – no faster than 65 miles an hour – allowed a feeling of spaciousness and peace.
There was the literal spaciousness of fewer vehicles behind and in front of us. And there was the internal spaciousness of feeling safer and more relaxed on the road.
Even though we arrived to our destinations later than we would have – sometimes by as much as an hour – we arrived with more energy.
It felt like a magic trick. The magic of the Slow.
And it wasn’t even that much slower, that was the cool part. Just taking it down a notch opened up a world of Chill.
Now that we’re home, I try to remember this magic trick in all things. I try to remember to slow down just a wee bit. When I do, I touch upon that same feeling of spaciousness.
The spaciousness is always there, I just have to remember to slow down enough to access it.
When we were on the road, with pretty much everyone passing us, it felt comical. Like we were a covered wagon in comparison. Sometimes we felt the pressure to go faster. After all, everyone else was doing it.
It’s the same thing in life off the road. The world around us is built on Speed. There are all kinds of pressures – external as well as internal – to keep pace. But I don’t have to!
I can go just a wee bit slower.
I can remember the magic trick and, in so doing, amplify the magic in my life.
What is your experience with going slower? Share your comments below!
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Thank you both sooooo much for going slow enough to honor my students’ with your thoughtful responses to their I-Search interview questions. There is so much learning happening that will never show up on a spreadsheet, but the soul in me sees the soul in you two. With deepest gratitude, thank you.
Hi Will,
Thank you so much. You rock! Those students are super fortunate to have YOU as a teacher. We see your soul as well, and we like what we see! 🙂
XOZ
Dear Z and Meli,
I really enjoyed reading this especially because I followed your travels on Facebook and I had this desire to travel in a van.
I feel that I have slowed way down but I think not enough or in the right way because I’m having my migraines and pain.
I’m working with an integrative medicine doctor and we were just talking about how I tend to put “too much on my plate” and ways that I can catch that while I’m doing it.
I will keep your suggestion in mind to take it just a little slower – and I’ll arrive there refreshed and not exhausted.
Love you both!
Hi Bonnie,
Great to hear from you. Sorry to hear about your migraines and pain. Yes, slowing down sounds like it could potentially help with that. Keep us posted on how you’re doing!!
XOZ
I can relate with the slowing down on the road as well as in life. As a wine tour driver and driving a lot, I find I drive so much slower when I have clients in the car with me. I brake with ease and no jolting stops. I find it so calming and gives me a peaceful feeling while everyone is speeding by in a hurry. Thanks for reaffirming the slow down. Peace!
Hi Deborah,
That’s awesome that you go slowly when driving others. Braking and stops are definitely smoother and easier! Your passengers are fortunate to have you as a driver!!
Peace to YOU too!
XOZ