There must a time warp out there somewhere. Believe it or not, over the past several months I’ve realized my life operates at two opposing speeds.
At school, I, along with others around me, am always moving. Like real-life Leslie Knope, people are zealous, highly ambitious and wildly successful. Everything and anything is packed into a single day, and if sleep must be forgone, then forgone sleep shall be. Moving at this pace, I surprisingly never find myself too tired — just excited for what made-for-TV, #socollege excursion hides around the corner.
But upon visiting home for the start of summer, sleep is re-introduced to my agenda. Somehow, 10 p.m. bedtimes appear reasonable — if not exciting — and 7 a.m. wake-up calls manageable.
This, folks, is Suburbia. Life is slower here. Coffee is poured out of leisure rather than necessity, and talks occur over hours on wide front porches rather than hurriedly in dining halls. And as much as it pains my overdramatic, teenage-angst-ridden middle school self to admit, it ain’t all bad.
Sweet dreams are, in fact, made of this: travelling the world and the seven seas, and embracing everything the high-intensity college pace offers. Yet, slowing down and smelling the roses is not as much of a nightmare as I originally believed.
My younger self spent her after-school time trying to escape the boredom of the ‘burbs. I would dive into theater productions to seek excitement in another place, time and person. I went on long car rides and imagined life elsewhere. Often, I wrote stories and poems outlining future hopes and goals.
Life was good, no doubt, but in my mind it could be better. If only I could escape the scores of pretty little houses lined up in rows and unenthused high-school sameness, then real life would begin.
Unsurprisingly, my plans for this summer involve a good deal of mobilization. While that adventure will bring me halfway around the world in the coming week and I’m excited for that to begin, what I’m enjoying in the interim — sitting, watching, waiting — is pretty enjoyable in itself.
This past year has highlighted for me the importance of at least occasionally embracing a slow speed. Breaking the speedometer and moving at twice the speed of life is thrilling, and, in retrospect, quite empowering when considering all that one can accomplish when never stopping to take two full breaths. But living in a whirlwind requires one to take pause every now and then. Much to the shock of a younger me, slow days are nothing to frown upon. Rather, we can take them as rewards.
You, beloved readers, have worked hard this year. So pause to appreciate that and soak in the slow-riding speed of life that starts off these blessed days of summer. Treat yo’self, and give the ‘burbs some credit for helping you do just that.
Mary’s column runs biweekly. She can be reached at m.long@cavalierdaily.com.
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