Slowing down requires a continual commitment, or shall I say recommitment; it is a conscious process; essential if I want to stay in the moment, or as Ekhart Tolle suggests, to stay in the NOW. I try practicing this in my every day life—on my walk, in the supermarket, pouring coffee, right now as I write—stay conscious to whatever I am doing.
When I travel, I have an easier time of it because I am usually in the midst of some awesome visual experience that slows me down in my tracks. For sure, one of the reasons I go to Florence.
When I was there in March I visited the baptistery, part of the cathedral/bell tower complex. Usually my eyes are drawn upward to the mosaics in the apse and around the entire octagonal structure. But on this visit my eyes were guided downward to the marble mosaic floor. The floors, usually roped off and carpeted to avoid wear and tear, were open in all their massive and minute splendor. I took it all in as I found myself catapulted into the NOW.
When I travel, I have an easier time of it because I am usually in the midst of some awesome visual experience that slows me down in my tracks. For sure, one of the reasons I go to Florence.
When I was there in March I visited the baptistery, part of the cathedral/bell tower complex. Usually my eyes are drawn upward to the mosaics in the apse and around the entire octagonal structure. But on this visit my eyes were guided downward to the marble mosaic floor. The floors, usually roped off and carpeted to avoid wear and tear, were open in all their massive and minute splendor. I took it all in as I found myself catapulted into the NOW.