“There is more to life than speed,” I remind myself when the elderly person in front of me walks too slowly down the hallway, the check-out line at the counter is too long or I get caught in a traffic jam. As Americans, we seem obsessed with speed. We have fast food lines, instant messaging and microwaves. Now that a new school year has started, a sort of routine settles in. This could be the opportunity to program a little “Come apart and rest awhile” space in our lives. It could be five minutes a day in which we sit in a favorite chair and breathe deeply. We might go outside in the evening to look at the stars or watch the moon come into view. We could take time at the end of the day to list five things for which we are grateful. Let’s help each other slow down and savor the gift of life.

By Eunice Antony, OSB