Slowing Down

You know, it's the weirdest thing. My handicap of bad knees has turned me into a calmer, more patient person. I know this is one of those blessings in disguise. I rush so much. My life was based on how fast I could walk to my next destination, and after that, to the next destination, and so on and so forth. Now, I rather be the last to get off the train since I have to walk slow because my knees will hurt if I try to move any faster. I was the woman who was standing right in front of the doors so that when they open, I was the first one to shoot towards the stairs. And I knew which set of doors stopped in front of which stairs that led me to the exact exit so I could get places faster. Oh, and I don't know what escalators are bc I'm too busy taking the stairs so I don't have to waste time by standing still. Then again, isn't that a definition of a New Yorker - always on the go: places to go, people to see, things to do.

So back to my patience. Walking slower makes me think more, too. I thought that would be a bad thing, but it actually isn't. I get to practice on my positive and in-the-present thinking. I try not to let the negative and the unknown (i.e. worrying over what I have no control over) clutter my mind. This will always be a work in progress, but at least I now have the opportunity (time) to practice instead of being in this constant rush.

I also now walk/shop with music because, why not, I have all this time and there are still songs in my iPod that I haven't given the time of day. I enjoy being alone in my head. I don't know how long this will last, but for now, I like it. You gotta find the silver lining in the worst of situations (in my case it's my slight limp that prevents me from doing some of the things I enjoy), because if you don't, life - as short as it already is - won't look so sweet, and it will probably feel like it only lasted a few minutes. If you're not convinced, then just think "hey, it could be worse..."