Think about it!

i have a great set of cards that was given to me as a gift years ago. They are 2.5x4.5 about the size of a deck of Tarot cards. They come in a box with a small book. It is called the "Observation Deck" and was put together by Naomi Epel.

The idea behind this deck of cards is to shuffle them up and pick one. i don't think i have looked at this set of cards for about 3 or 4 years. i move it around the house, dusting it off, putting it away in the book shelf, but never opening it up to use. It was given to me by a great friend that thought it could help on days i couldn't think of anything to write. Until today i've never actually used it to inspire me.

But this was a different day and i was having trouble thinking about what to write so i Googled "Writer's Block." i quickly realized i wasn't having writer's block in its pure sense as i had been writing earlier on a different subject. What i was needing was inspiration.

i left the computer, sat down on the couch, looked across at the bookshelf and it glared back at me, screaming....... pick a card....pick any card....just do it!

i got up, got the deck of cards and sat back down. i opened up the box, took out the cards, shuffled them up and picked one that was sticking out farther than any of the others. When i read what was on it i gasped. This, could not be for me i immediately thought and almost shuffled up the deck to draw another card.

Instead, after contemplating the two words i had in my hand, i got out the little book that comes with it....turned to page 88 and read the instructions.

"Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by the things we think we need to accomplish that we become frantic and get nothing done at all. Today, instead of speeding up, slow yourself down. Don't think about all the things you have to do, just focus on what you are doing at this very moment."

i read the rest of it....two pages worth concerning how to slow down...and realized it was time to linger.

Slow down it said. Isn't it something we all need to practice in order to accomplish those goals we set for ourselves? Slowing down and focusing on one thing instead of multi-tasking and doing a mediocre job with all of them. We get so caught up trying to do too much that none of it gets done properly. If we slow down and concentrate we actually do a much better job.

So slow down....linger here.......look at the pictures.......read some of the other posts you haven't read....stroll through the archives.........take an extra minute to really observe in all parts of your life. Slow down and listen to that co-worker, slow down and listen to your friend, your wife, your husband. Slow down, sit in your car before you go tearing off to that next thing that just has to get done and take a minute. Look around, savor things, slow down.

Today just try to slow one thing down.


Update on the Century Plant!
As you can see it is still going strong. One year has passed since it sent out the big C and almost to the day it started sending out a new shoot. If you want to see the original...look back in the 2008 August and September archives.

Now a typical century plant is not supposed to send out a shoot except once in its lifetime, but this is not your typical plant. This new shoot also has curves but not as spectacular as the original.
i continue to be mesmerized by its growth and resilience.