by David L. Weatherford
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round, or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight, or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly,
When you ask “How are you?” do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won’t last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow, and in your haste not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die, cause you never had time to call and say “hi”?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before your song is over.
If You Want to Be Happy, Remember to Smell the Flowers
I like to walk slowly. And it’s okay to walk at a relaxed pace. As long as you know where you’re going, sooner or later, you’re going to get there… Just like The Tortise and the Hare. The Tortise got to the finish-line first, even though he was moving slowly. The Hare had the speed, but he was running all over the place. Being goal-oriented is important, being in a hurry and rush is not. You can still win the race, and enjoy the scenery, as long as you’re walking in a straight line.
Half the value of life is in the Journey; the Experience. So slow down and smell the flowers. David L. Weatherford’s poem is a beautiful rendition of this philosophy.
