In the past few months I’ve begun to take the slow road more and more often.
Take the Slow Road
That means that when I have a choice between driving on local streets and highways I choose them rather than driving on the freeways. I love the more relaxed pace of driving the back roads rather than joining the hustle and bustle of the freeways.
This week as I drove along the east shore of Medicine Lake on my way home I spotted a couple of dozen trumpeter swans on the lake.
I hurried home, put my long lens (100 – 400 mm with 1.4 tele-extender giving me ~540 mm zoom) on my camera and headed back to the lake. There was a dock that went out almost to the edge of the lake with an opening between the trees. I was able to stand there and admire and photograph the swans without disturbing them.
If I hadn’t taken the slow road home I would have missed seeing them and photographing them.
What a gift!
I love watching these beautiful birds and enjoy hearing the cacophony of their deep honks. Their huge size even seemed to dwarf Canada Geese that were swimming in the same area.
Remembering to be present to the world of nature always brings me gifts. Just standing and watching the swans, geese and ducks swimming in the cold lake water filled me with joy.
The Slow Road in Every Season
In the springtime I look at all of the fresh signs of spring, daffodils in bloom, crab apple trees, budding leaves, greening grass and seeing all these things brings me joy.
As summer days arrive I marvel at all of the lush greens that I see along the streets and roads. I notice how vivid spring green turns to more sedate summer greens as the summer days lengthen.
During the fall color season I follow many back roads in my travels admiring the beautiful color in favorite spots in the city and west metro area. It is such a joy to slow down, relax, and enjoy the beauty all around.
After winter snowfalls I admire the snow-covered trees. Some days the whole world seems hushed and quiet after a deep new snowfall.
“And so taking the long way home through the market I slow my pace down. It doesn’t come naturally. My legs are programmed to trot briskly and my arms to pump up and down like pistons, but I force myself to stroll past the stalls and pavement cafes. To enjoy just being somewhere, rather than rushing from somewhere, to somewhere. Inhaling deep lungfuls of air, instead of my usual shallow breaths. I take a moment to just stop and look around me. And smile to myself.
For the first time in a long time, I can, quite literally, smell the coffee.”
― The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather
How often do you intentionally take the slow road when you go somewhere? Try it sometime soon and pay attention to whether you feel more relaxed, joyful, and refreshed when you arrive at your destination.
May you walk in beauty.
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