Newsletter - The slowing down thing...

Hi, 

I finished a six week workshop recently, and it was possibly one of the highlights of my year. A main component of this workshop was our relationship to ourselves, our time, and our way of seeing and telling stories. I think, as far as career highlights are concerned, teaching this workshop was definitely one of the peaks. 

I wanted my students to slow down, in their photography and in their lives. The most significant thing to happen to my career was parenthood. Both that it stalled it and changed it at the same time. It was in this change I realised that much of what I have learned while begin a parent has come because I was forced to slow down. I walk slower, I get things done slower, learn slower and better. What used to be a high-stress deadline-paced day-to-day has turned into a leisurely stroll where time is treated differently. I have less of it, but I use it better.

It was a strange epiphany, but I think tortoise speed has become my preferred method of passing time. Because stopping to smell the roses does more for me than just knowing what a rose smells like. It also counters the fight or flight response my brain has to stress and overwhelm. And the fight or flight response, well, to me that's basically drawing a wall up in front of me and my to-do list, which is counterproductive as I get nothing done.

So, today, I challenge you all to take the time and assess the parts in your life that move rapidly. Maybe there are places where you can stop for just a minute or five and take it all in. 

How do you reduce stress in your life?

All for now,

Kristine