Does this sound familiar? Lately when I feel like I darting around my life too fast to keep my feet on the ground, I hear Paul Simon singing (well, honestly, I hear my father singing this Paul Simon song) in my head:

Slow down, you move too fast, you’ve got to make the moment last…feeling groovy.

You may know the song, you may not.  It doesn’t really matter.  What matters are the words.  And, whether or not you listen to them when you hear them.  I try to listen.

And, after my second cold in the past 3 months hit me last week (and knocked me on my butt)—I am really listening.  Sure, it’s true…there’s a lot going on in my life.  As, I am sure there is a lot going on in yours.  But this cold really made me stop and think: why am I moving so fast?

If you’re a patient or friend or family member of mine, you see it firsthand: I move really fast, but I sincerely try to practice what I preach.  I really do.  So, then why did my immune system get the best of me? Not sure… I eat right, I take my supplements, I exercise, I sleep 7-8 hours every night, I take down time, I express my emotions, I have fun, I focus on the good, I live in moderation.  Yet, I still wound up with a raging fever and a subsequent ear infection that left me on the couch for 6 days!

What gives?

In my professional medical opinion, I think there are two reasons:

1. I’m taking on more than I’m allowing myself to receive.  I suppose this comes with my nature—I’m a nurturer and a care taker and I love those qualities about myself.  But, what I’ve recently realized is that the nurturer in me needs to be nurtured too.  She deserves it.  She gives out a lot and that should be met with receiving as well.  Thankfully there’s no shortage of love in my life… I just need to allow myself to slow down enough to receive it. And, sometimes I’m even allowed to ask for some nurturing.

2. I need to be more diligent about taking the time to meditate.  I’m usually pretty good about meditating, but lately I’ve gotten more into listening to self-help-y style lectures and books on my iphone and I’ve let meditation—the quiet—go to the wayside.  I really enjoy the works I’m listening to, and they are offering me such profound evolution but I am missing some quiet time.  I am missing the sitting and being still time.  I am moving too fast.

As I sit here typing, I feel quiet. I feel still. I feel peace.  I am breathing deep and it feels good.  I am making a promise to myself, as I publicly state it to you… I am slowing down so that I can consciously receive all the love in my life and sit quietly (for at least ten minutes a day!) and bask in awesome-ness of this life of mine. You see, you can do all the right thingsand still be negatively affecting your health.  For me, this last cold was a great awakening and I’m grateful for it.

Life I love you, all is groovy.