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What if you could control the matrix?
When the bullets are flying, wouldn’t it be great to be able to see them coming and bend left, then right, and watch them fly by in slow motion? To do that you need to learn some secrets of slow motion.
I’m sure you could make a cool Youtube video of you in slo-mo.
Is it possible to live a slower life and actually enjoy it? Absolutely. Now, it wouldn’t be fun to actually live and move in tree sloth time. What I want you to see is the perception of time shifting into a lower gear. The real “secret” is being intentional about the speed of your life.
Time, itself, slows down when you do.
Talk to almost anyone older than you and they all say the same thing. “The older you get the faster time goes.” I would say that most of the retirees that I know are busier now than when they were still working. On the flip side, if a retiree sits in the rocking chair and does nothing, they quickly degenerate and die. It’s true that “a rolling stone gathers no moss”, but what if the stone is rolling too fast? Chaos can quickly ensue with an out of control boulder. “Rock Slide”
It is hard to do less. I spent Thanksgiving and the days after hanging out with family and friends purposefully doing nothing. It was hard to slow down. Oh, so worth it.
Every part of our lives are built around being as productive as possible, or at least as busy as possible. Everyone feels more important if they are busy, or appear to be busy. I’ve seen elementary kids with planners.
If you don’t have much experience in simple living and slow living you may just have to take a vacation to kick start a new out look on life.
“Doctor’s orders”
Now, any time off will be great, but you need at least 4 days, preferably longer, to let your brain begin to slow down. For the first 3 days you will likely be antsy and wanting to do something, resist it. On a “vacation” don’t plan anything. That’s right…NO plans. You’re on the non-plan plan. Some of the best trips and most memorable were never planned. The patients I prescribe a vacation to need to do nothing and let their minds and bodies rest. You don’t want to have to take a vacation after your vacation.
If you are taking a R & R vacation my suggestions would be to the mountains or the ocean. Both of with have a lot of power, energy, and the ability to humble you with their grand scale. I realize you can get peace anywhere but humans have always gravitated to these places, they offer that little bit extra.
Now if you are really in need of peace and reflection you could sign up for a month of meditation in a Katmandu monestary. Since that kind of isolation would break most people, me included, go for the ocean or the mountains.
If you are really strapped for time a lake or a forest will do if you don’t live close to the big ones.
A few other suggestions to SLOW life down and enjoy it.
- Go to a foreign country- you will be forced to slow down with unfamiliar surroundings and language barriers.
- Turn off your phone and computer for the day.
- Have no plan
- Travel light - Walking on the cobblestone streets in Mexico I saw this poor guy dragging 2 huge suitcases along while he followed his female companion. I thought “poor #$%^&*” Don’t drag burdens around with you.
- Spend the night cooking a big meal and enjoy preparing each piece.
Benefits to you:
- You sleep better
- You feel less pain
- You have more energy
- Life can take on more meaning than to-do lists and bills.
But “I don’t have time…I have this to do…and that to do”
If anything close to those words just came out of your mouth…you must go. Everyday you wait , you rob yourself of life. All your stuff will be waiting for you when you get back.
Try this easy, warm, healthy potato soup.
Last night I made a potato soup that my wife and I love. I savor each bowl of this filling soup.
If you need a warm meal after being outside try this.
Ingredients for 2 people:
- 3 medium potatoes (Preferably organic)
- Onion (small)
- Green beans (about 2 cups)
- Dill (as much as you like), we use a lot.
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 cups Milk (Preferably raw, if not then whole milk)
- Salt / Pepper (Preferably Celtic Sea Salt)
Step 1: Start with the potatoes. Clean the outsides, leave the peels on. Cut into 4 pieces. Boil for 20 minutes
Step 2: Steam the green beans ~7 minutes
Step 3: Heat the milk on medium on the stove ~10 minutes. Be careful not to heat too high or too long. You want it to be “soup” temperature hot.
Step 4: Blend on “High” for 1 minute. Milk, butter, dill, 1/2 of the potatoes, 1/2 of the green beans, 1/2 of the onion.
Step 5: Add the rest, blend on low to just chop the rest up. This gives it a chunky texture.
Step 6: Salt and Pepper to taste.
Enjoy, and eat it SLOW,
Dr. Altman
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