Telluride, Colorado - July 2, 2:00 pm It was my second day on the mountain, with no food just water twice a day. I watched an ant slowly navigate its way up my leg.
When my aunt invited me to a vision quest I didn’t realize it would involve starvation; however I was still feeling fine with one day to go. Three days in the wilderness without food or comfort was not how I imagined I would spend my vacation. Nor was the two-day process of cutting and bending aspen saplings to create a sweat lodge – followed by a three-hour sweat. But there I was in the woods in my 8x8 ft space surrounded by talisman of Indian spirits. I was not to talk to anyone and could only leave to relieve myself.
I was a wimp and insisted on a tent. The last time I went camping was boy scouts and all I remember is the poison ivy rash I came home with, vowing never to camp again.
It was on day two that I began to move beyond my boredom and focus on the voices in my head – not the Sybil kind – just the usual gnats that keep you from focusing on the moment. Had I locked my car; did I send that email; did we resolve that issue or was it still brewing out there…. I focused on slowing down, something not typically rewarded in many environments – especially corporate workplace where speed is the key.
I felt the breeze, looked out over the mountain range and just sat there with nothing on my mind for maybe 5 minutes. But 5 minutes of total silence was a big accomplishment, and I considered myself at nearly guru zen level, until I found myself congratulating Me and moving a hundred miles an hour again.
It’s tough to slow down and find time to let our mind and spirit unwind, but key to our balance and even happiness. By slowing down – you may even become more productive (and that means faster…)