I developed blisters, likely due to walking my friend’s dog in the heat and walking for 8 hours every afternoon at my Walmart job.
Every time I got off work, even just walking to the front door was painful enough for me to wish I could stop moving my feet altogether for at least 1 week.
But I can’t.
My commitments wouldn’t allow it.
When I woke up to walk my friend’s dog, however, I thought, ‘Why not take a slower approach?’
What am I in a rush for?
Why not walk slower so I don’t feel much pain?
And with the support of vaseline on my blisters and a fresh pair of socks, I walked out the door very slowly.
I wasn’t feeling much pain.
I continued walking at a slower pace throughout my morning walk, and I wasn’t feeling much pain.
But I was also taking in a lot more of what was happening around me: cars zooming by, birds chirping, trees swaying.
I even greeted a random passerby on my walk, and he said something strange as we walked past each other.
“Take it easy, man.”
He knew nothing about me. Not my excessive walking. Not my tiredness. Not my blisters. Nothing.
Yet he said what I needed to hear.
I should take it easy. The slower morning walk proved how better I felt by taking it easier.
Now, I’m wondering if all other facets of my life would improve if I took it easier.
Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.
John De Paola