Slow Down

One of the hardest things to do in today’s world is simply to slow down. Life seems to be moving at lightning speed, and everything around us is designed to go faster and faster. Cars race by, the internet loads in an instant, food is delivered at the tap of a button, and even conversations are shortened into quick texts or emojis. I’m guilty of it too—when a webpage takes more than a second to load, I find myself groaning and muttering, “this is worse than dial-up,” for those who remember those days!

But when I think back to my time in Maine, I remember something different—something I deeply value. Life there moved at a gentler pace. People seemed to have mastered the art of slowing down. They savored their days, their meals, their conversations. In our café, it was rare to see anyone glued to a phone or laptop. Instead, people were present—with each other, with their coffee, with the moment. Some might say there’s more poverty there, but what I saw was richness in simplicity. That, to me, was a gift.

Now that we’re back in the South, I notice the contrast even more. The roads are faster, the grocery store aisles are filled with hurried footsteps, and it’s rare to see someone standing in line without scrolling on their phone. Everything feels like a race.

On our drive back from Maine, I caught a moment that made me pause. Our dog Harvey had his head out the window, his favorite thing in the world. He was sniffing the air, moving his head back and forth quickly, trying to take it all in. But we were going 70 miles per hour, and no matter how hard he tried, the world was just rushing by too fast. Watching him, I realized—sometimes we’re all like Harvey. We want to savor the moment, but life is speeding past us, and we can’t quite catch it.

The truth is, even in Maine, we were guilty of this. We moved there to slow down, but work and busyness crept in, and we missed so much of what the state had to offer. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush, no matter where you are.

I heard a quote recently that stuck with me: “Americans live to work, while Europeans work to live.” It hit home. Too often, we get so wrapped up in productivity and schedules that we forget the simple joy of living.

So today, my “something good” is this reminder from Harvey: slow down. Savor the moment. Each one is a gift. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee, a walk outside, or just a deep breath, there’s beauty in the pause.

I’m trying not to miss Maine too much (though the struggle is real!) and instead focus on exploring and adventuring in our new home. There’s so much to see, so much to experience—if only I take the time to notice.

Signing off with a grateful heart and a gentle reminder: slow down, because life is too precious to rush through.

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