Slow Down and Enjoy

Happy July 4th. Hopefully everyone can take some time to have fun this holiday, whether that’s spending time with friends and family or watching a fireworks display.

The following message is from positivechristianity.com

Don’t make excuses for not living fully today. Don’t put off the simple pleasures of life for some imagined tomorrow.

A young and successful executive was driving too fast through a neighborhood in his new car. He was keeping an eye out for kids darting between parked cars, so he slowed down when he thought he saw something.

Nothing appeared—until a brick suddenly slammed into the side of his car. 

He slammed on the brakes and backed up to the spot where the brick had been thrown. Furious, he jumped out, grabbed the nearest kid, and pushed him against a parked car, yelling,

"What are you doing? That’s a brand-new car! That brick is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do that?"

The boy was apologetic. “Please, mister... I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do,” he said through tears. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop.”

He pointed around a parked car and said, “It’s my brother. He fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.”

The man was stunned. He walked over, lifted the injured boy back into his wheelchair, and used his handkerchief to clean up the scrapes. A quick look told him the boy would be okay.

“Thank you and may God bless you,” the child said.

The man was too choked up to reply. He watched as the brothers slowly made their way home.

It was a long, slow walk back to his car. The damage was noticeable, but he didn’t repair it right away. He left the dent as a reminder:

Don’t go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention. 

God whispers to us in our souls and speaks to our hearts. But when we don’t stop to listen, sometimes God throws a brick to wake us up. The choice is ours: Listen to the whisper—or wait for the brick.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here, we might as well dance.

A woman once shared:

“I can’t count how many times I called my sister and said, ‘Want to go to lunch in a half hour?’

She’d always say, ‘I can’t. I’ve got laundry out. My hair’s a mess. I had a late breakfast. It might rain... It’s Monday.’

She died a few years ago. We never had lunch together.”

In today’s fast-paced world, we live on a diet of promises to ourselves—promises we’ll act on only when the timing feels perfect.

We tell ourselves:

“I’ll visit the grandparents when the baby’s toilet trained.”

“I’ll entertain guests after we replace the carpet.”

“We’ll go on a second honeymoon once the kids finish college.”

But life keeps moving. Days fly by. We wake up one day and realize all we’ve done is make plans for “someday.”

I have a friend who lives in the moment. If you call her with an idea, she’s up for it. She’s open, enthusiastic, and willing to jump into the adventure of life. After talking to her, you feel like trading your sore feet for rollerblades and skipping the elevator in favor of a bungee cord!

This weekend, do something you WANT to do—not something on your SHOULD DO list.

If you knew your time was short and you could make just one phone call, who would you call? What would you say?

Why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched children playing on a merry-go-round?

Have you ever truly listened to the rain?

Followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?

Watched the sun set?

Or are you rushing through each day?

When you ask someone how they are, do you actually listen to their answer?

Do you go to bed each night with a to-do list still running through your head?

Have you ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow”, and missed the sadness in their eyes?

Have you lost touch with someone you care about? Let a friendship die?

When we rush through our days, it’s like throwing away unopened gifts.

Life is not a race.

Take it slower. Hear the music—before the song is over. 

_______________________________________ 

POSITIVE DAILY PRAYER:

I need help and inspiration to become fully alive again—today.

I choose not to put off joy, or wait for some “perfect” time to enjoy the simple pleasures.

I am alive, and that is the greatest gift I can have.

Help me to savor each moment.

May I not miss the opportunities this day brings.

Help me to slow down.

Help me to enjoy the now.

Help me to do something every day that brings me joy.

And tonight, may I go to bed smiling from the memories I created today.

Amen. 

POSITIVE DAILY AFFIRMATIONS:

I am fully present and enjoying this moment.

POSITIVE DAILY QUOTE: 

"You'll seldom experience regret for anything you’ve done. It’s what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message is clear: Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Wasting them means you’ve lost them forever." — Wayne Dyer