Last weekend we had our second big snowstorm of the season. We rarely get snowstorms here, and even more rarely accumulate anything lasting more than a day or so. But these storms have been monsters, relatively speaking, and the snow has lingered, icing over and road-dirty, for days. It’s hard (and dangerous) to drive, my small dogs have a tough time walking on the deep, crusty snow, and I really miss seeing grass! So when this second snowstorm approached on Friday, I immediately started dreading going into work on Monday. Then, I stopped myself. Why waste a perfectly good weekend worrying about going to work on Monday, when I could spend it relaxing by the fire, working around the house, and reading a good book? So, I resolved to be very present all weekend. I stopped all thoughts of the future as soon as they appeared. I replaced them with gratitude for my husband (who is a marvelous cook), my house, my dogs, my friends, my internet connection… the list goes on. I replaced them with wonder for the jewel-like sparkle of the ice on the branches outside; the joy of fat, puffy birds sitting on the bird feeder; the fun of working on an art project; the satisfaction of a hot bowl of potato soup accompanied by crunchy garlic bread. I stopped myself several times a day to just be. Just experience the present moment, filled with warmth, beauty, and joy.
On Sunday evening, with the weekend stretched out behind me, it occurred to me that time actually slowed down. That was the longest weekend I’d experienced in months; it didn’t fly by like my weekends usually do. Instead, it meandered like a lazy river, allowing me to fully experience each moment, to actually stop and think, “What do I want to do next?” I felt fulfilled, relaxed, and ready for the coming week.
It’s not that I spent the weekend doing nothing but ‘being’; I actually accomplished a fair amount of work. The difference is that I didn’t spend the weekend oriented on results. I spent it oriented on my current experiences, be they writing, creating, or enjoying a moment in a sunny window with a warm Chihuahua on my lap. By focusing on the present moment, I transcended the clock, slowing down time. Actually, making time meaningless.
My guideline from this? When I want time to slow down, I focus on the present moment. When I want it to speed up, I focus on the future.