In June 2003, Emily Abrera, then Chairperson and CEO of McCann-Erickson sent this beautiful email to all the Excom and Mancom members of the company. I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago when I was rethinking my future with the agency. At that point in time, I was just clearing out old emails from the old mail platform, Lotus Notes. Then this treasure...
Slow Down Therapy
Slow down; God is still in heaven.
You are not responsible for
doing it all yourself, right now.
Remember a happy, peaceful time
in your past. Rest there.
Each moment has richness
that takes a lifetime to savor.
Set your own pace.
When someone is pushing you,
it's OK to tell them they're pushing.
Take nothing for granted: watch water flow,
the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow.
Taste your food. God gives it
to delight as well as to nourish.
Notice the sun and the moon as
they rise and set. They are
remarkable for their steady pattern
of movement, not their speed.
Quit planning how you're going
to use what you know, learn, or possess.
God's gifts just are; be grateful
and their purpose will be clear.
When you talk with someone, don't think
about what you'll say next. Thoughts
will spring up naturally if you let them.
Walk and play with children.
It will bring out the unhurried
little person inside you.
Create a place in your home...
at your work... in your
heart...where you can go
for quiet and recollection.
You deserve it.
Allow yourself time to be lazy
and unproductive. Rest isn't
luxury; it's a necessity.
Listen to the wind blow. It carries
a message of yesterday and
tomorrow-and now. NOW counts.
Rest on your laurels. They bring
comfort whatever their size,
age, or condition.
Talk slower.
Talk less. Don't talk.
Communication isn't measured by words.
Give yourself permission to be late
sometimes. Life is for
living, not scheduling.
Listen to the song of a bird;
the complete song. Music and
nature are gifts, but only if
you are willing to receive them.
Take time just to think. Action is
good and necessary, but it's
fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull.
Make time for play-the things you
like to do. Whatever your age,
your inner child needs re-creation.
Watch and listen to the
night sky. It speaks.
Listen to the words you
speak, especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and let others
take their turn as
leaders. There will always be
new opportunities for you
to step out in front again.
Divide big jobs into little jobs.
If God took six days to create
the universe, can you
hope to do any better?
When you find yourself rushing
and anxious, stop. Ask yourself
"WHY?" you are rushing and anxious.
The reasons may improve your
self-understanding.
Take time to read the Bible.
Thoughtful reading is enriching reading.
Direct your life with purposeful
choices, not with speed
and efficiency. The best musician
is one who plays with
expression and meaning, not the
one who finishes first.
Take a day off alone; make a retreat.
You can learn from monks
and hermits without becoming one.
Pet a furry friend. You will
give and get the gift of now.
Work with your hands.
It frees the mind.
Take time to wonder. Without wonder,
life is merely existence.
Sit in the dark. It will teach you
to see and hear, taste and smell.
Once in a while, turn down the lights,
the volume, the throttle,
the invitations. Less really can be more.
Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest
thing to do - but often
it is the best.
Take a walk-but don't go anywhere.
If you walk just to get
somewhere, you sacrifice the walking.
Count your friends. If you have one,
you are lucky. If you have
more, you are blessed.
Bless them in return.
Count your blessings -
one at a time and slowly
- author unknown
So here I am on a Monday morning. The week is just about to wind up. But not for me. I'm at home having some Slow Down Therapy.
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