I recently wrote a book review for The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss and in the final chapter he shares a poem that I really enjoyed. I thought I'd share it with you.
The poem is called SLOW DANCE by David L. Weatherford.
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.Time is short.
The music won't last.Do you run through each day
On the fly?When you ask: How are you?
Do you hear the reply?When the day is done,
do you lie in your bedWith the next hundred chores
Running through your head?You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.Time is short.
The music won't last.Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship dieCause you never had time
To call and say, “Hi”?You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.Time is short.
The music won't last.When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.When you worry and hurry through your day,
It's like an unopened gift thrown away.Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.Hear the music
Before the song is over.
I really like that poem. If you didn't get the message, it means to SLOW DOWN.
I can relate to this. I'm always focused on the destination — of achieving a certain goal or hitting a mark, rather than slowing down and enjoying the journey and process.
People rush through their lives and before you know it, it's over. Life is not a race.
I'd recommend checking out my book reviews of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle or The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman for learning how to live in the moment.