I flick through my iPhoto album, another thing on my Need-To-Be-Done list. Almost 40'000 pictures from the last 5 years that needs to be sorted and organized and preferably printed at some point... but where shall I start?
I found this lovely picture from 2014, the epic summer in Sweden. And in a time where I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the things I should do, need to do and want to do, I take a moment and transport myself back there and a feeling of calm enters me.
Isn't life spinning way to fast or is it only me thinking so? It feels like we all are running on top gear at all times. What's wrong with riding a moped at 30km an hour through life instead of a Ferrari at 220? We will reach our destination anyway... I want slow. Do you want slow? Will we ever go back to slow? Or at least a little bit slower than we run around today? The kind of slow where we sit by the beach and eat homemade burgers hot from the grill on a sunny summer evening. Smelling the water, feeling the wind, having the sun kissing our skin warm. Simple. Uncomplicated and oh so good.
Kärlek
Annette
Annette
FOLLOW My Rose Valley HERE:
So don't run, sit down. All the best! Regula
ReplyDeleteHello Annette, Maybe you could take a look at what you don't need to do. Think about what you are doing and just say NO to some things. The world will not stop spinning if you say no. Sometimes I feel we need to really look after ourselves first so we can then know how to look after the other important people in our lives. Your honesty is very refreshing. Listen to your inner voice and act on what you feel you really need to do. Try one little "no" at a time and give yourself some "me" time every day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Gail.
Dear Gail
DeleteSaying NO is hard but I do. It still feels like I'm in a horse race all the time. But yes, I'm overlooking my time and what I'm doing with it. Making new priorities. Today I'm starting my day with a slooow cup of tea and I have decided to do NO chores, only enjoy things I like and go for a nice frisky walk in the woods... If this works I might just turn Sundays into holy recuperation days where I only do "me" stuff. It might just work.
Thanks for your input and thoughts. I really appreciate it.
Happy Sunday Gail.
Xxx
Annette
Print that beautiful photo and put it up somewhere, even if only with washi tape. I did that with one of myself, lying on my back in the grass in a mountain pass a couple of years ago, on a day that I had to take that pause and did.
ReplyDeleteOh I know exactly what you mean Annette. Even when you do get a slow day it seems hard to bring yourself down from the whirl of life, the mind still races even when the body has slowed down!! Hugs Julie x
ReplyDeleteDear Julie,
DeleteYES! I'm not alone and now I already feel much better. And you are so right. Even though we try to slow ourselves down it is like our minds are still running wild... Well, today I'm having a sloow day.
Thanks for visiting.
Best wishes
Xxx
Annette
Annette, I couldn't agree with you more. I agree 100% and I want time to slow down too. Have a great weekend, greetings from US:)
ReplyDeleteslow is good
ReplyDeletetake a breather & sit & enjoy the view
just caught up with your other posts myself, your little one is certainly a natural with the camera (gardening post)
wow the foggy mornings are surreal aren't they? no wonder you were thinking of medieval times, it certainly looked like you went back there :))
thanx for sharing
Dear Selina
DeleteHaving a breather this morning sipping a BIG cup of tea... SLOOOOWLY. Thanks for your sweet comment on Nelly Bo's pictures. She is so proud. Thanks for popping in.
Happy Sunday!
Xxx
Annette
I think one can take too many photos. They are not always capturing the moment, because often people are not in that moment, as they are missing it, instead running around with the camera. So the unique opportunity to actually see the rare bird in the tree passed without actually seeing it at all. Only the lens of the camera did. Your own eyes missed it! You may as well look at a picture in a magazine as it no more or less reflects what you 'saw'. Life is what often happens while taking pictures.
ReplyDeleteSo many things are missed because they are blocked out by the camera lens. I see it all the time. Children's parties etc. are often missed as an experience to properly remember as a felt and enjoyed experience. But there are the pictures to show it happened......People at rock concerts are a case in point, more bothered about pictures and selfies than being in the moment and truly feeling the exhilaration and joy of that time.
There are limits to how many photos one can look at, without stopping your life to do so in any event. Digital photography is great, but I do think we have become obsessive about getting everything on film. I mean what is anyone meant to do with so many pictures? Life moves on and we move through it. It's not still and static and there to be continually looked back on. It's for living fully and in the moment right now. That is what memories are, the captured thoughts, the feelings and emotions, the smells. Not just pictures.
Hi dear Anonymous
DeleteI totally agree we do take waaaaay to many pictures in this digital world. And it is kind of biting back on us. I'm a snap shot collector though. Have always been from an early age. I think I got my first camera at age 8. I see life in still pictures. We are all different and I love all the photos and the memories the bring out when I see them. But they could be less, for sure. I think I've created a mountain of photos and now I'm not sure of how to climb it. I'll get there one day with my sorting and organizing. One step at the time, slooowly, I will reach the top.
Thanks for visiting today.
Annette
I am running so fast all the time I even find my breathing to be short, like I am actually running. We need to step back and reassess, life is to precious to plow thorough.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
The search for slow...ah, yes. This speaks to me. In fact so much of what you write about speaks to me. I think you are the sort of person I would enjoy having a visit with over a nice slow cup of tea. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same. Totally with you on this one sister.
ReplyDeleteDear Mira
DeleteThank you! Always nice to hear I'm not the only one.
Happy SLOOOOW Sunday!
Xxx
Annette
Time seems to just evaporate, I don't know why. I wish we could all slow things down but life seems to go at an amazing pace these days. All we can do is enjoy it the best we can. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts. I remember a time when my children were young and I always seemed to be running. Life has forced me to slow down this year and I must say, the health issues that forced the change not withstanding, I am enjoying the results. :-)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Dear Betsy
DeleteSounds fantastic in my ears. I'm so pleased to hear I'm not alone in this and I will truly make an effort to slow myself down a bit. I just wish the world could slow down a bit too... Congratulations on your health recovery and keep enjoying your "new" slower life.
Xxx
Annette
I want slow, too! :)
ReplyDeleteYou don't know how much I understand you.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand how you feel because I feel the same and, with all that I do, I also feel guilty because I can't keep up with the blog.
Well, patience! Let's take the time we need, if it serves to feel better! Quiet, we wait for you!
Recently on one of my posts I have asked the same to my blogger friends whether they are uptodate with their digital photos, I have lost many when my laptop crashed twice. I have collected only 6000 pics on my iPad from past 5years and I keep on emptying my phone photos on my laptop. So I can understand your pain with that count. Days are always busy and as a parent it will be like that until you become a grandma:) Since you are living in countryside, I feel your life might still be better compared to fast madness in a metro city. I think we need to define how much realistic me time and slowness we need rather than keeping a vague expectation from ourselves. When we stay at home, we try to overdo household chores. When I used to work, I dragged some until weekend. Now whenever I see work around, I try to complete as I feel guilty of not doing it or I do for a reason so that my weekend will be free for family.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a slow day!
ReplyDeleteI've learned through years of stress and a fast pace to "simplify" my life; take a good look at all the "things" that are stressing you and decide if they are really worth it in the big picture; most of them will not be. My life is so much better after letting the "junk" go that I thought was so important, I don't miss it! I hope this will work for you too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we are in a similar place again my lovely friend. I certainly crave slow at the moment too. Life doesn't seem to want to let me have it though. I hope you get some rest soon.
ReplyDeleteS xx
DU hast so Recht!
ReplyDeleteZEIT ist so kostbar....ZEIT für die schönen Dinge im LEBEN!
Danke für deine Anregung!
Liebe Grüße, Gabi
***You are so right!
Time is so precious .... time for the finer things in life!
Thanks for your suggestion!
Greetings, Gabi