speed obsession

There is a speed obsession, a strong interest in fast pace, in our culture. We strive for quickness, efficiency, and productivity; some of us in all that we do, as a constant game or challenge to fully optimize everything. I have seen it in my own behavior: Iron away the wrinkles of time, meaning more in our pockets, right?

Why speed? Why go fast when you can go slow? Speed obsession seems to stem from trying to get to the next thing, as fast as possible; the next moment, or event, or just to be through with what's currently happening. But, by trying to get somewhere, you end up getting nowhere; once that next moment arrives, even if its one you were looking towards, you'll be pushing again to get out of it, and onto the next. An existential treadmill.

In response to noticing this, I'm slowing down; deliberately. Because speed is so ingrained, and defaulted upon, it takes a little effort and intentionality to slow down. Much like it takes an initial push to reopen a clenched hand, or relax your shoulders after a long, stressful day; but it ultimately feels better after you decide to let go. The same holds true with speed.

I noticed speed first in my walking. At university, almost everyone walks rapidly between classes, in a effort to get there on time, or sooner. A place I see this happen on my walk to class is one busy intersection. Many people gather at the crosswalk, waiting for the opposing traffic to cease, before quickly striding across, into the bustle of campus delights. I used to try and get out in front of this pack, lead the way, so as to not get caught behind them (which would naturally slowed my pace, an unacceptable state in the past). But now, I try to intentionally stay behind. Let the horde break away and watch them fade into the distance, with peace in my mind.

This is just one, little way, we can reintroduce slowness into our lives, and combat speed obsessive tendencies. Like the walking to class example, I've taken similar action in other aspects of my life; namely eating, getting dressed, opening doors, climbing staircases, typing, writing music, and journaling. The applicability ranges from the mundane to the fruitful; from daily habits like opening doors to our greatest passions such as writing music. Even my recent articles are longer, and a little slower to the point.

Everything we do has a natural pace to it. A speed at which we move, physically or mentally, during it's execution or process. Try to decrease that ingrained pace by 10-30% using an intention to move slower, and see how it feels. You can even shoot for greater withdrawals if it feels right. I promise, you won't miss anything, or lose any valuable time or productivity; you may end up realizing how much you were missing, by trying to move faster than light.

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