What are we all rushing towards?

“Go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke

“Remember then: there is only one time that is important—now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.”
—Leo Tolstoy

In our current hustle and grind culture, constantly rushing to the next thing is the status quo, whether we’re rushing to the next item on our to-do list, the next meal, the next appointment, the next meeting, the next vacation… and we get so caught up in all of the “nexts” that we often forget to be where our feet are: in the here and now.

Last night, life gave me a harsh reminder of how our habit of rushing can put us in dangerous, life-threatening situations. I was walking my dog with a neighbor when we heard a thunderous, bone-chilling crash, followed by several more sounds of collision. We ran over to the scene of the accident and came upon the wreckage of two cars, with debris from each car strewn across the road and sidewalks. A car had sped through a red light and T-boned another car at a four-way intersection. It was a horrifying and heart-wrenching sight, and it was a miracle that all passengers were alive—though not without serious injuries and trauma.

As I later processed my own experience of witnessing this horrific event, one of the emotions I felt was anger. I felt angry at the driver who ran the red light for endangering so many lives. My anger was valid, yet I also recognized that he likely wasn’t thinking about the potentially fatal consequences of his split-second decision. He was focused only on reaching his destination or getting away from where he was as fast as he could. Had he been fully aware of what was at stake—his life and the lives of three family members—my sense (and my hope) is that he would have slowed the hell down.

A valuable lesson that I learned from working with my coach is that whenever I’m in judgment of someone else, it’s an opportunity to turn inward. Whatever I’m judging in this other person, where might this also be true for me? And where is the opportunity to see both this person and myself through the eyes of loving-kindness and forgiveness? What I discover is usually both confronting and enlightening.

I realized that I also often find myself rushing through life—whether to get somewhere else or to escape where I am, both literally and figuratively. There are days when I forget to pause, slow down, and look around to appreciate what I already have. To love where I am without wishing things were any different. And it’s only when I slow down enough to see this that I have the freedom to make a different choice. One that feels truer to my values and who I want to be. One that’s rooted in gratitude, presence, and love. One that is life-affirming.

Sometimes, it takes a rude awakening to truly wake us up. I believe there’s a lesson in here for all of us. We could all stand to benefit from asking ourselves, “What exactly am I rushing towards? And what am I missing out on because I’m in such a hurry? What do I stand to lose by not slowing down?”

So, dear reader, as we approach the end of this year, this is your invitation to remember to slow down. To give yourself permission to be where your feet are and to remember that life is unfolding within you and all around you, right now. This is it. This is life. And that’s your breath—have you noticed it today? My invitation is to savor it for just a bit longer than you normally would.