Slow Down You Move Too Fast

Truth Tuesday

I am going to make some assumptions here. Please stop me if I am wrong or inaccurate:

1. You are always in a hurry.

2. You are proficient at doing many things at once.

3. You are proud of your multi-tasking abilities, but deep down you know that it is just too much.

4. You feel that if you were to try to do less, then others in your life (perhaps your kids, your significant other, your neighbors) would not be able to pick up the slack and perform at your level. (In other words: No one does it as well as you do.)

Am I on-target here?

Since I know a little bit about you, and what I know is that you are similar to me in many ways, I'm fairly certain that 1-4 above apply to you more than just a tiny bit.

I do everything too fast. I'm always trying to cram four to-dos into a one to-do slot. And the thing is, probably like you, I'm pretty good at it. (My favorite thing to tell people is that it's not multi-tasking unless you are doing at least six things at once.)

I usually get everything done, or at least done enough, to retain my SuperWoman or Mother of the Year status.

But that doesn't mean that rush, rush, rush is really the way to live. Or even the best way to get things done. And, of course, there are those times when rush, rush, rush catches up with us and...well....it's really not too pretty.

Case in point:

Yesterday morning, I was getting into my car in the driveway to take my daughter to the bus stop which is about 10 houses down my street.

I am always in a hurry to get to the bus stop on time. I have been in a hurry to get to the bus stop on time for seven or so years already.

(Oh, and I have a perfect record: No kid of mine has ever missed the bus. That gets me an A+ somewhere, right?)

So yesterday morning we were running on time. Leaving the house exactly at the moment (7:10) that gets us to the bus stop at exactly the right time (7:12) to wait calmly for the bus (7:15).

Everything was running on schedule.

So I get out onto the driveway and I see the trash truck (Monday is trash day...) was smack-dab right in front of the house. The trash truck is in front of my house, or any given house, for about only about 30 seconds.

But I couldn't wait.

I was in-a-hurry-Mom. Actually in-a-hurry-SuperMom.

Plus, because I had so smartly and with such great foresight backed in to my driveway the night before I didn't even need to back out -- just drive forward and get out. Which is what motivated me to exit my driveway while the trash truck was still smack-dab in front of my house. (Did I mention I couldn't wait 30 seconds?)

I made a very sharp turn out of the driveway, between the trash truck and my heavy black metal mailbox. I even waved at the guys and smiled. I had all the room in the world! Nothing was going to stop me from staying on schedule!

Until about halfway through the turn when I heard the scraping.

And creaking.

And then heard and saw the mailbox door fly open onto the end of my car.

Oops.

I didn't just hit the mailbox, I managed to make contact with it along almost the entire length of my car.

As I cleared the mailbox and the truck, I figured I'd take a look at the bus stop and, really, it couldn't be as bad as it sounded...right?

So I made it to the bus stop (on time!) and parked. Got out of the car and lo and behold...I have a racing stripe! It is a white scratch/gash (depending on where you look) that tells quite a tale. And it's not pretty. Actually, it is a big mess. (My daughter insisted she could fix it with a Sharpie. Ummm...not so much.)

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I did briefly register the thought that as a newly-divorced woman, at least I didn't have to have the how-will-I-tell-my-husband stress and that was a minor but albeit brief comfort. (When I did tell him, he seemed quite amused....I wonder why.)

When I told my friends on twitter, which is often where I go to confess my sins, I got some "Are you trying to be like Tiger Woods? comments. (I wasn't far enough removed yet to think that was funny.)

And when I told my best friend, she told me what I needed to hear: "Write about it in your next blog."

Of course.

So now would be a great time to tell you of all the lessons I learned about slowing down, taking more time, chilling out and stopping my attempts to do everything at once.

I actually knew those lessons already. This experience reinforced my knowledge that I am all-too-often teetering over the edge in these areas.

But did it or will it change how I operate on a daily basis?

Well....ummm....maybe....sorta.....kinda....not really.

Sigh.

Comments

[Amy]

Yes, I 100% relate on every single level. Not only am I running late to be on time for everything in my life, but my kids are so used to it, it causes them zero stress. "So what Dad, we are almost late everyday," is what they say as my husband shakes his head and wonders how on earth I can manage to live this rushed lifestyle. All while taking our kids to all their appointments, outings, school and where ever else necessary while still working way more than full time.

Although it is nice to stop and slow down from time to time, I think we Super Moms would all be bored if it was our norm.

[SLowe]

You must have a camera monitoring my every move, because you just captured my life perfectly...at least you find the time to write!

[Stacy]

Allison, I love this post! You are describing me to a "T". And I have a similar story from about a year or so ago when my husband was in China for work. Rushing, rushing, I managed to knock off my side mirror! I did get it fixed before he returned home although I confessed to my husband, and we both agreed that stuff happens. Still, it hasn't slowed me down a bit!

[Heidi Estrin]

The question that comes to my mind is: why can't the kids just walk to the bus stop if it's only 10 houses away? That seems like a REALLY good opportunity to slow down, breathe fresh air, smell the roses, etc. plus good exercise!

[Allison Nazarian]

Hi Amy,
I almost wish (almost) I could live with being late sometimes. Maybe the grass is always greener (and I bet you didn't scratch the heck out of your car!!)
Alli

[Allison Nazarian]

Hi Slowe,
:) Yes I have cameras following you and every other frazzled parent in America.
Alli

[Allison Nazarian]

Hi Stacy,
Your comment and some of my friends' comments to this blog on Facebook reminded me that I backed into my ex-husband's car not once but twice IN OUR DRIVEWAY and he once into mine. Sigh.

Alli

[Allison Nazarian]

OMG Heidi,
You are so right, especially here in South Florida where we have only gorgeous weather days. They don't want to walk to the bus because "no one else does."

You have given me an idea for next week's post....stay tuned and thank you :)
Alli

[Chris Coleman]

Somtimes slowing down isn't such a bad thing. I think everybody has had experiences where if we had just slowed down everything will still get done. What a great read to show that sometimes slowing down is a good idea.

[Allison Nazarian]

Hi Chris,
Yes it is a good idea. One that for me has been easier said than done but that said, one I am working on mastering starting with actually scheduling in downtime into my schedule/life.

Thank you for the comment :)
Allison