Down Time Is Not Wasted Time

Summer is upon us.

And for many of us, it is a time when we naturally take the time to slow down a bit – to reflect, to renew and to regroup for the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead.

Summer is the perfect time to think about this quote from Ashley Smith, the writer and speaker who was held hostage for more than seven hours by Brian Nichols after his escape from Atlanta’s Fulton County Courthouse in 2005.

Smith writes:

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

Summer is the perfect time to take up this challenge. Notice the beauty not just in the seemingly “big” moments, but in the small ones, too. Take the time to stop and notice the beauty of nature. To really listen to what your loved ones have to say. To truly take in what it feels like, minute by minut, to be alive at this point in time.

Doing these things might feel, initially, like a bit of a waste of time. We are so conditioned, after all, to multi-tasking. But when we take the time to slow down and enjoy and appreciate our lives, we regain our focus and passion, freeing up energy to do the things that matter most.

Enjoy the summer. Make the most of it. And know that time spent enjoying the little things is not time wasted.