I’ve noticed my life slowing down to a crawl lately. Well, not
probably a crawl by any stretch of the means, but a crawl for me. I am
reading less and producing less than I did before. I think it’s because
we have a three month old…

I’m such a task oriented person that it’s hard to bite the bullet and
just be present sometimes. I am enjoying a lot more unscripted,
unplanned, free time, which we spend hanging out on the floor playing
with toys and listening to music. It’s lots of laughing and talking and
spitting up. I am content to pass the winter nights with a cup of tea in
one hand, a baby sitting next to me and a leisurely book read…

It’s just that there is a voice in my head telling me that I am not
doing enough at a quick enough pace. I tend to read and write at a
frenetic pace if given the space—that is my production. Now I am having
to learn to tune down the voice in my head telling me to move on from
one thing to the next and just be present. It’s the constant call of
acedia to a general state of restlessness when I am being called to slow
down and be present instead of being a producer.

What are some ways you have found to be more present and less of a producer?

Originally posted at Everyday Liturgy.

Thom Turner

Thom Turner teaches English at Nyack College and is a senior editor at Generate magazine. He blogs at Everyday Liturgy, part of the CCblogs network.

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