In this fast paced world, taking the time to linger over a meal can be rare and getting away from your responsibilities often seems next to impossible. We say that that “time is money” and use the language of finance and business when talking about it. We worry about wasting, budgeting, and investing our time, and we run from one thing to the next. We even push through the holidays without taking the time to enjoy them.
Having my favorite people gathered around a table enjoying good food, wine, and conversation is the highlight of the holiday season for me. I relish the kind meal where no one is rushing off to do anything and you honestly feel that with enough conversation (and enough wine!) you just might solve the world’s problems.
So in the words of Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love:
“Dear ones, EASE UP. Pump the brakes. Take a step back. Seriously. Take two steps back. Turn off all your electronics and surrender over all your aspirations and do absolutely nothing for a spell. I know, I know – we all need to save the world. But trust me: the world will still need saving tomorrow. In the meantime, you’re going to have a stroke soon (or cause a stroke in somebody else) if you don’t calm the hell down.” Elizabeth Gilbert, What Matters Now (pg 11).
We spend less and less time relaxing or enjoying unhurried time with family. That’s what I’m truly looking forward to over this holiday season, but admittedly, sometimes it’s easier said than done!
How will you be spending the holidays this year? Can you take a real, honest-to-goodness break from the maddening pace?
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Oh, so true! Love Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m looking forward to seeing family and several friends over the upcoming holiday. And no rushing through it, I have 9 days to enjoy! I’d be down for a bottle of wine and some conversation. Oh, and food. I like food, too.
I’m glad to hear that, Jenn!
I love her too. She’s just got a way of telling things like they are without being preachy. I don’t expect that anyone reading this blog would be running around quite as crazily as she talks about… :) But, I definitely saw a number of people at the mall and the grocery store this holiday season who could seriously benefit from her words!