I’m constantly in a rush. I’m hurrying from one thing to another. It doesn’t matter how much I do or achieve; there’s always something more that I can do. I know that I’m not alone in this. 

The days feel much shorter now. It’s not because we have fewer hours in a day but rather because we try to cram so much into our days. The more we progress and the more advanced technology becomes, the more rushed we are. There simply isn’t enough time in a day to get everything done. Maybe it’s just me, and maybe it comes with age. Am I the only one who feels that the days go by too quickly?

What will happen if I slow down? What will happen if I turn back the clock to live like my parents or grandparents did? Things were mostly done by hand. It took time. They were working hard but at a slower pace, yet they seemed to get everything done. They had a more relaxed life, and they lived it at a leisurely pace. I want to slow down and take my time on things, much like my grandparents did. I recall days that seemed to last forever, unlike modern times when days seem to pass in the blink of an eye.

I often wonder why I am so busy. What do I have to show for this busyness? Like the writer of Ecclesiastes, I am wondering whether it’s all for nothing and whether I’m chasing the wind. When I die, who will carry on with my work? Will they value the things I value? Does it even matter?

What do we need for enjoyment and to take joy in living? I don’t find much joy in rushing from one point to the next. Joy, for me, is found in the little things, the simple things of life, such as a refreshing shower, a walk in the rain, the fragrance of a flower, watching a butterfly flit from one bloom to the next, or even watching a spider spin its web. We can’t enjoy these things if we are constantly in a hurry.

What is better for the soul than a long, relaxing bubble bath? I think there’s no better way to unwind after a busy day than a bubble bath. It’s the most relaxing part of my day. 

This is the antithesis of my demanding and busy days. It’s the perfect ending after the mad rush. It’s like a portal to a different reality where I can forget the pressures of the day, even for a short time.

Other people have different escape hatches. For my husband it’s swimming. He could spend hours in the pool swimming length after length. It was his escape from daily pressures. The stroke he suffered two and a half years ago deprived him of this pleasure. What is your escape from the demands of daily living?

Life is serious. We have obligations. We have to do certain things merely to survive. Many of us work to keep a roof over our heads. There is little joy in what we do. Survival demands that we get up, show up, and do what is required. We rush off to work, and then we rush back home to work some more. Eventually, we fall into bed feeling drained and exhausted. We need to stop, breathe, and enjoy the moments that make life worthwhile. Merely chasing after the wind will leave us exhausted and empty-handed.

To me, the best advice is found in The Message Bible. It advises, “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him” (Romans 12:1-2).

Life consists of sleeping (rest), eating (refreshment), going to work (yes, work is a blessing), and walking around. The implication is that we should walk around without any purpose other than to enjoy our ability to walk and savor our surroundings. Take time to enjoy the little things and the special moments life offers. You only get to live once. Make the most of it.