A Reminder to Slow Down

A Note from our CEO: I shared this message with my team after the election results, and it seemed fitting to also post it here.

In our fast-paced world, there’s often pressure to have immediate reactions and process everything in real-time. This is a reminder to give yourself permission to slow down. Like, literally—take a moment to breathe.

The world can feel vast and complex, and a country, with all its diverse people, experiences, and ways of life, can feel that way, too. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers or can’t fully understand our present day. Take the time you need, and know that we’re all moving through this together.

Here are some suggestions that you can take (or leave) as you move forward in the days to come:

Ground Yourself

Yes, get into your body. And I know sometimes it’s actually easier to get under the covers with a bag of Hot Cheetos (LOL, no shade). You can have your Hot Cheetos moment, and you can also make time for some intentional breath work, or some stretching, or a meditation that can ground you. It’s important to get out of your head and into your body. Start moving.

Radical Self Care

And I’m not talking about any trend where you buy new expensive eye cream or the latest athleisure of the week (LOL again, no shade). This means being mindful of what you need to move forward. How do you fill your own cup? Be intentional about getting more of that into your life. For me, it’s morning walks and fresh coffee from my favorite neighborhood café. There are so many friendly dogs hanging out with their owners outside, that it’s hard to have anything weighing heavily on me. Here are some other small things that might bring you joy:

• A favorite playlist that always gets you out of your head and into a dance move
• A favorite snack or treat where you can self-indulge (is this your Fro-Yo moment?)
• A meal from your favorite restaurant
• Diving into a book or podcast you’ve been meaning to listen to
• Touching base with a friend you miss to say you’re thinking of them

Look to Nature

Notice that the sun rises and sets with each day, and what we do in between is up to us. Sometimes we have to go out of our way to find delight. So make it your purpose to seek it out. On my morning walk today, I saw a heron standing so still I almost missed it. I pointed him out to a man walking his dogs, then decided to linger and stare a bit longer. The heron darted his beak into the water with such precision, and came back up with a little fish that he quickly consumed. And I’m like, “okay heron, I am on my way to get some breakfast too!” Anyway, delight is still all around you, and you can lean into that as a source of joy.

Think Small and Take Things One Day at a Time

When faced with anything big or daunting, our minds naturally start to think about the future and imagine worst-case scenarios. Let’s give our nervous systems a break and maybe instead focus on the day and the week ahead. Any project manager will tell you, when you have something big, break it down into small manageable tasks.

And on the note of feeling small when it comes to big things, I also encourage you to think small. What can you do for your neighbor? What can you do for your block or your neighborhood? And what can you do to help a friend? This is part of your community, and those small acts matter. Over time, they make a big difference.