Migratory Dispatch No. 5: How to Slow Yourself Down
Words of Wisdom from Entrepreneur and Creative Director Andrew Anabi
There is a small local shop in Hanalei, Kauai, with a name that doubles as a mantra:
Not only is this a great brand name, it also is an apt reminder in our hectic modern world. How often do you rush from one place or task to the next and get to the end of the day before you feel like you can take a breath? How often does the ever-growing to-do list of minimal impact, busybody activities distract you from focusing on the things that matter most in life?
At any time during these vicious cycles, you can choose to opt out of the chaos. If only you can remember to do so! “Slow yourself down” is another version of “stop and smell the roses” and is no less effective as a way to snap yourself out of missing out on your life. It is a way to remind you that you are in control of what you give your attention to and how you process what happens in your head.
And what could be happening in your head instead of succumbing to busyness and distractions? Gratitude and appreciation for the life you get to live while you still have the opportunity to live it, for one.
Entrepreneur and creative director Andrew Anabi said it best, via James Clear’s weekly newsletter:
When life changes, you will probably miss the way it was. You may miss those long morning drives or walks to the office, or those hectic family gatherings. You may miss them because those moments are finite — you will only travel those streets and see those people a certain amount of times.
Every time you do something that is one less time you do it. One day you will do something the final time and you will rarely know when that day comes.
For all you know, today might be the last time you walk in a particular neighborhood. Or it might be the last time you smile at a particular someone. To think otherwise, would be foolish. Nothing is guaranteed, except this moment. Your only real choice is to cherish every exchange like it is your last — because it very well might be.
Therefore, the best way to cherish life is to remind yourself of life's impermanence. It is to remember that every time you see someone that is one less time you see them. It is to remember that every time you go somewhere that is one less time you visit. By doing this, you naturally slow down. Almost like a reflex, you start to truly live.
Slow yourself down and smell the roses while you still can. Do not waste the precious gift that it is to be alive!
Follow Along with Felt
Maps stand the test of time when it comes to documenting a journey. It is a natural medium through which to share the experience, as there is such a strong current of geography and place on any trip through the physical world.
To that end, Felt, a collaborative, web-based mapping platform, is being used to catalog our trip this summer. Felt democratizes map-making with an easy-to-start and easy-to-use model that seems well-suited for this type of application.
Follow along on the map here.
The Boondocking Count
One of the goals for the trip this summer is to boondock at least 50 percent of the time. We are going to be away from home for 42 days, so that means we need to boondock at least 21 nights to succeed.
The updated boondocking count through this morning:
Total nights = 31
Total nights boondocking = 23
—
74 percent boondocking