Tuesday, February 24, 2015

On spending the afternoon . . .



"I don't want to come to the end of my life
and find that I have just lived the length of it.
I want to have lived the width as well."

-Diane Ackerman


{KK 212}

Remember the story about the tortoise and the hare? How the hare laughed at the tortoise, who he said was too slow. How he bragged and bragged about how fast he could run....yep, that one.

Remember what a joke he thought the tortoise was for even challenging him to a race? And that the hare ran so fast that he left the tortoise behind, and how after half the race was over he got so confident that he stopped to play in the meadow and then took a nap?

Well, I think there is more to the moral of this story than "slow and steady wins the race."

Because, I don't believe life IS a race.

We live in a world so full of technology that we fool ourselves into thinking we can accomplish more than we do. It's simply an illusion.

We live in a world where "fast and furious" is prized. Where people live only for the next big "thing" that will make them happy. The next vacation, or car, or when they are debt free. For the next job promotion, or when they lose weight. We are an "if" and "when" society. If and when I do these things, and accomplish this or that, then I will be happy kind of society. The kind of society that thinks the more that's on the schedule, the faster you will get to your destination.

But life isn't really about the destination, it's about the journey . . . it's about all the moments we touch from here to there. There is no medal to be found in getting to the finish line first, and no points for big meadows (of course the meadow is a metaphor, because meadows are quite lovely). And just like the hare, when we go too fast we become delusional about our time, how much we have and what our goals really are. And, when we have completely exhausted ourselves by going so fast, we may even find ourselves fast asleep in between.

We buy into that thought that life is lived at the next pit stop. But life commences here, and now, taking advantage of all that surrounds us as we plod on ever so slowly.




When we go slow enough, we don't necessarily have to stop. We can take in the view, and reach out and touch everything. We can see things because the road isn't moving so fast.

And then we can say, 

"I owned ever second that this world could give . . . " - One Republic


It's a choice to spend an afternoon, one slow step after the other. It's also a choice not to.

Trying to be the tortoise,
Love, Kim






43 comments:

Tamar SB said...

Wow. This was such a great read this morning! Great, great, thoughts.

kathyinozarks said...

beautiful post-so true

chasing the sun said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SeaThreePeeO said...

Great post and so very true. Great picture too.

Julie's Lifestyle said...

This was such a beautiful post and I love the photo with the feet up! Thanks for sharing.

Emma said...

Such a beautiful post. Love your photography, too...it's gorgeous!

Viv@Thoughts from the Desktop said...

Such wise words I'm with you there...

Kmcblackburn said...

One of the secrets of a life lived fully? Knowing the many little things is greater than the far and few between big things. Love this post and your insights. Thanks for sharing at Song-ography my friend :)

Kmcblackburn said...

One of the secrets of a life lived fully? Knowing the many little things is greater than the far and few between big things. Love this post and your insights. Thanks for sharing at Song-ography my friend :)

Adrienne said...

YES. Love the photos, quotes and insights. You've spoken right to my heart!!

Mascha said...

Wise true words and speaking photo.
Whe I see my cat, I often think that I could learn from her to spend the time...

Anita Johnson said...

I can't agree more. I once told a friend that I had sat IN my flower bed trying to get a picture of a hummingbird drinking nectar from a Columbine. It was beautiful to watch him maneuver under the gently moving target. Her response shocked me..." You have too much time on your hands". Oh, I am fortunate to have that time, but I could not think of any way better to have spent that time than watching that hummingbird, a marvel in Gods creation. These moments are a gift.... The tortoise and you have it right!

Nancy said...

Amen...you have spoken words of which many many people never understand until it's too late.....A message that bears repeating often....

Unknown said...

Wonderful thought-proving post... I love the image you used - so perfect!

Michelle B said...

Yes!! Life is now. When we are rushing around or wishing we were somewhere else, we miss most of it. Love your picture too.

Kerri Farley said...

What a GREAT post!!!

Lisa Mallette Photography said...

One word....AMEN!

bgottsab said...

Beautiful wisdom.

Sheila said...

Love your post!

Unknown said...

perfect post! let´s try and be the tortoise!

Conniecrafter said...

I totally agree with you, and I think that comes more to light the older we get!

Kim Cunningham said...

You nailed it. That quote at the beginning is new to me, but boy, oh boy it is truth. I have to believe the Tortoise is seeing much more of this world than the rabbit.

Scrappy quilter said...

A great post that I totally agree with.

Sharon said...

Inspiring post, Kim! And both the quotes -- yes, yes! I love that length and width concept. I'll be thinking about that one!

EarlK said...

I agree completely. All my life I have tried to enjoy each adventure as it came along. No hurry, just enjoy. Some have called me lazy since I don't enter the race for the next thing. The next adventure usually comes to me. I find a lot of joy in these Testure Tuesdays.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

The photo caught my eye (great perspective) but your commentary was the big treat!

Carol Blackburn said...

What a great quote! I wrote that one down and will put it into practice on Friday when I get together with my 3 best friends for our afternoon together.

Stephanie said...

Wow, what a wonderful post, my friend! Your words are so, so, so true and they are words we need to remember. Thank you so much for sharing this at Roses of Inspiration - I was richly blessed!

Thinking of you and wishing you a lovely day. Hugs!

elizabeth said...

I love this! Both the photo and the post!

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post and photography!

Love annie dillard too!

Happy week to you,
artmusedog and carol

likeschocolate said...

so true!

My Garden Diaries said...

My goodness Kim....this post hit me straight in the face! Such a powerful and beautiful message. And how TRUE! Thank you for refocusing me through this post.....you just completely inspired me friend! So happy to have popped by! And I hope you do plant some veggies! Nicole xo

Unknown said...

I LOVE this post. I so want to be the tortoise.

Hugs~
My Happy Place

CountryMouse said...

Beautiful thoughts and so true. Take the time to live every moment, take the time to take it all in. Living every moment doesn't have to be done at speed. What is that quote ... stop and smell the roses. I think we get so caught up in it all we forget to enjoy it all.

Marilyn said...

Oh, I do love this shot and the quote. Delightful.

Mitzi said...

Totally beautiful! LOVE that quote!

Prairie Jill said...

Beautiful!

Unknown said...

Spoken with wisdom Kim!

Stephanie said...

Hi sweet friend! I wanted to you let you know that this wonderful post has been featured at Roses of Inspiration. Thank you for sharing and I hope you join us again! Hugs to you!

Debby Ray said...

Hi Kim, I'm visiting from Roses of Inspiration. I am so glad to know that there is someone else like me. Sometimes I feel like I am wasting time snapping my photos...I mean I can't tell you how many hours and I know many can relate. I find this to be a way of worshiping as well...taking in and capturing the beauty of God's creation...and it's really OK to do this. Thank you so much for this beautiful and thought provoking post.

Sam Newton said...

Hi Kim, I just found you from my new dear friend, Stephanie at Enchanted Rose. I used to "stop and smell the roses more" and your post is a wonderful reminder for me to get back in that habit.
Blessings and hugs,

Buttercup said...

Call me the tortoise, too, and your newest follower. What a beautiful post. Stopping by from Stephanie's.

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