Slowing Down.... Just A Bit!

Wowwww.... it has been a hectic week, for me. Attending demos, meetings, attacking the endless work pile on my table, hearings coming up next week, documents to file in before hearing dates, appointments to keep, hosting of MNS AGM in Kuantan this year, tending to the kids, house and cats etc etc.....

I feel like I have been running on high speed these few days. No choice. Everyone wants something from you today that was supposed to be due yesterday. And it leaves me, panting, gasping for that occasional gulp of air. Sometimes I search in vain for that panic button that I can just press to stop all this activities going on around me.

Yes, we live in an age of immediate gratification where everything "instant" is deemed to be good and time saving. We got instant coffee, instant oatmeal, instant noodles, microwave popcorn that takes only 30 seconds to prepare, and we still want things to go faster and more instant! Even our normal e-mail today is now considered slow, if U do not have a handheld device that you could receive mail on! Haisssh.....

So you see the irony of modern day living? While technology is continually inventing devices to save our time, our life is more fast paced and hectic than ever. Sometimes life seems to pass us before we can really enjoy it.

Made me sit back to take a breather. And I realised, that one thing that never need speed and no instant formula for it, no matter what. Its obtaining our intimacy with Allah.

This unique relationship takes time. No instant connection or shortcuts here. The idea of growing closer to Allah itself does not form overnight, but a gradual journey. Its a learning process, learning about Him and all his mercy, growing more aware about Him and his presence in our life. Learning to put more confidence in His love for us and exercising our faith in His faithfulness to keep His promises.

You can't rush thru your prayers and feel connected to Him. Every ruku', every sajdah, has to be performed in proper form and with ease and grace of one bowing to his creator. Every recitation that is recited, the meaning should reach the heart and the recitation should be like an offering to Him. The outpouring of our pleas to Him, our request of help to stay on the path of righteousness from Him.

But of course suggesting that we go slow in life is kinda like suggesting rebellion to some. But then, hey, lets rebel against a hectic lifestyle and slow down to enjoy life.

A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you’re doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with — instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them. Sometimes we become blinded to the beauty of creation because we are so focused on the intensity of our daily routines. We should make it a point to get out there and reacquaint ourselves with Allah's incomparable creativity in the flowers, trees, birds, bugs and bees. look upwards to the blue of the skies and the whites of the clouds floating by. Take in sights, sounds and smells, whisper an alhamdulillah for all these blessings we sometimes take for granted.

uncle Google got lots of beautiful nature pics, but can't beat the real thing of being in contact with nature itself!

Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness. So, I am opting to slow down a bit the days ahead, as I am embracing the mantra " to run my race with optimum efficiency, I must keep my batteries charged". Hey! Even the best of racehorses has to stop for oats every once in a while!

I meant race horses lah! LOL!

So, signing off now. 

Hope all of you have a great weekend. I know I will. Got a freshwater turtle (tuntung) research area that I'm gonna check out with theMNS gang at Kg. Gajah Pasir in Kemaman! Bet its gonna be a cool kind of trip!