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"May LOVE be our new currency,

And PEACE our new measure of success.

May TRUTH be our new security,

And JOY our new status symbol."

~Debbie Barnett~

Many of us live in the fast lane of life. Constantly rushing from one thing to the next, we treat life as if it were a race. This need for speed, however, can diminish the quality of our life. Bodies aren't meant to handle this kind of adrenaline overload. The result is we hit a speed bump, like illness, that stops us cold. It's then that we realize the heavy toll we paid to travel in the express lane.

There's a term for this overwhelming sense of urgency, anxiousness and chronic rushing around; it's called hurry sickness. Take the following quiz to find out if you suffer from this malady:

1. Are you often in a hurry to get things done?
2. Do you walk and talk fast?
3. Do you get irritated or upset at other drivers or when stuck in traffic?
4. Do you feel the need to multitask, even when it's not necessary?
5. Do you interrupt people when they are talking?
6. Are you chronically impatient and cranky?
7. Do you constantly over-commit yourself?
8. Are you often running late or behind schedule?

Did you see yourself in any of the above scenarios? Do you realize you aren't the only person hurry sickness affects? Emotions are contagious, thanks to what's known as our open loop limbic system. Our harried energy "infects" everyone with whom we come into contact: family, friends, co-workers, and clients all pick up on the energy we send out.

So what's the solution? Vacations are nice, but they wear off after a week or two. Regular yoga class is great, but what about those times you can't get to the mat? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take breath breaks throughout the day. When you feel yourself rushing or hurrying, take a deep breath. Then take another one. Consciously slow down.
2. Before and after a meal, take a moment to settle into your body. Relax your muscles around your bones and settle into your seat (you ARE sitting down to eat, right??). Take a deep breath and appreciate your food both before and after you eat.
3. When putting your key in the lock upon returning home, take a moment and consciously slow down. Be aware of the transition from public life to home life. Be present as you walk across the threshold.
4. Drive in the slow lane for a change. Let people cut in front of you in traffic.
5. Stop multitasking. Do one thing at a time until completion before starting something else.
6. Make time for meditation, even if it's just 10 minutes at a time. The effects are cumulative and go a long way to bringing the nervous system into balance.   

Thich Nhat Hanh, the Zen monk, says, "Life is so short, we should all move slowly." By stepping out of the fast lane and learning to slow down, we learn to enjoy the ride. And in so doing, it just might last a little longer.

Namaste,

Debbie