To Slow Down

by Nisargo Troy

In the recent months I have been getting this message repeatedly. To slow down, pay attention to the essential things in life. To stop running. To rest. I work part time at our lovely, local library.  There, the right books keep showing up for me. In the most fantastic of ways. Someone had a book shipped from a different library and I get to handle it first. A return in our book drop catches my eye. I always have way more books at home than I can read. 

Recently a book literally jumped off the shelf toward me: Rest is Resistance, A Manifesto, by Tricia Hersey. I am fascinated by the concept of the “Nap Ministry” this author created, which encourages people to start napping, resting the eye, like her grandmother taught her, to slow down in order to step out of the race, we, in our society, are so caught up in. 

Then a friend send me this quote by Bayo Akomolafe:

“So, everywhere I was invited to speak, I offered an invitation to ‘slow down’, which seems like the wrong thing to do when there’s fire on the mountain. But here’s the point: in ‘hurrying up’ all the time, we often lose sight of the abundance of resources that might help us meet today’s most challenging crises. We rush through into the same patterns we are used to. Of course, there isn’t a single way to respond to crisis; there is no universally correct way. However, the call to slow down works to bring us face to face with the invisible, the hidden, the unremarked, the yet-to-be-resolved. Sometimes, what is the appropriate thing to do is not the effective thing to do.”    

Ha, I thought. There it is again. The encouragement to slow down, rather than speed up. Especially right now. 

Slowing down helps me see better. I take notice of my surroundings and get to marvel at the beauty around me as well as really sit with the hard stuff. I remember to breathe. And involuntarily I arrive in a place of appreciation. 

So, I went and asked members of Heartwood to send me short quotes on what they appreciate about living at Heartwood. The results show the myriad ways to see our community and its beauty. 

Enjoy!
Nisargo

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I feel grateful for the opportunity to delve deeply in a supportive way to all who have been drawn to the wisdom circle happening every Saturday morning for over 25 years. The insights, the laughter, the joy of knowing one another in a profound way makes my heart sing. - Sondra

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I'm so grateful to see the stars, planets and the milky way at night, which fills me with awe and wonder. Before moving to Heartwood I would only see these on camping trips. Watching this reminder of my place in our vast cosmos every night is thrilling. - Mary Ellen

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I get to have coffee breaks with friends who work from home. I can just drop by, chat for a bit and go home. It’s easy and rewarding and I always know they will be there for me when I need a little encouragement. - Sandy

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I feel grateful for our beautiful, winding trails in Ponderosa forest, open meadows, sage fields, and rocky piñon/juniper heights. I have been riding horses, biking, and cross-country skiing on them for twenty-five years and I love them more every day, although now I am mainly walking. I feel happy that I helped build or improve some of them, led by Mac the trail man. I love that so many animals use them too, judging by the deer, raccoon, turkey, and jack rabbit tracks, and occasionally, paw prints of predators. - Gay

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I am so grateful to be at Heartwood because we work together towards a rewarding life giving, sustaining common goal: Delicious Healthy food that we nurture and share from earth and seed to delicious meals. Connection with the Universe. Thank you HW - Tina

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I am grateful for the experience of love and wellbeing right where I am in Heartwood. I look out my window, there’s a neighbor, go out the door there’s another neighbor, get within arms reach, and there’s a hug from my neighbor. I am grateful for our humanity and the mess of being human, which I find endlessly fascinating as we learn to be more loving and gentle with each other. - Tom

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I’m grateful for the deep friendships I've built here over the years. I’m grateful for the love and support of my neighbors that I know is there whenever I need it. I’m grateful for access to nature right out my front door. I’m grateful to live in such a safe and peaceful place. - Mac

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I am grateful for the children yelling " Hi Mari" as I walk past, for the smiling faces & holding hands in gratitude before the Common Meal, for the small talk and laughter in the Common House kitchen while preparing a meal to share, for the camaraderie on Work Share Saturday, and going to the greenhouse for a tomato and a few leaves of chard! For the caring and sharing of hearts in the Wisdom Circle, the incredible beauty surrounding us here, & all this clean air to breathe & all these amazing people as neighbors becoming my friends. - Mari

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Praying

It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

- Mary Oliver