Everything looks fast when you're standing still

At the pub last night, one of my friends said something that hit me kind of funny. Made me think.

A couple hours before, he and some guys were throwing the football in the street. But when I drove past on the last bit of my journey from my weekend escape, they were all safely on the sidewalk.

"You drive too fast," he said.

"No I don't."

"We even heard you downshift."

"Yeah, out of second. I was going about 17." 

But the issue isn't speed. It's how careful you are. I admit I speed on freeways. It's speed or be run over. Literally. But on small streets like this, I observe the speed limits. I drive a fast but very stable sports car, and I know its limits and mine. And I'm aware of everything around me. In a lifetime of driving, I've only had two speeding tickets and none in this car. I've never caused a wreck nor have I even almost hit an animal, child or man in a drunken Sunday afternoon football toss.

What he said reminded me we live life in the fast lane. And sometime we have to move fast or be trampled. I have my own business and have to move fast in order to survive. But survival isn't enough. I want to thrive. Be the best. So it takes some speeding. But I've never left any collateral damage in my life's wake because I'm careful.

Living life more slowly is something I've worked on for the last few years. Taking more down time and enjoying each experience as much as possible. I stopped wearing a watch so I wouldn't be such a slave to time. I spend more weekends not working.

But while enjoying my down time, I've learned when you're standing still everything moving looks fast. My friend who said I drive too fast was standing still. And yes, there are grassy parks on either side of this stretch of street just begging for a football game.

Next time it looks like life's going a little too fast, hop on board to catch up with the pace. It may take a little trust, but from a moving vantage point, things won't seem so slow. That's how we get places. Maneuver carefully and don't slow down until you're ready. When you do, you'll probably enjoy that stop even more.

Love to the single girls,
Addison