I shy away from creating from prompts as I tend to come off as an emotional writer or unintentionally stray from the topic but sometimes, I feel intrigued to answer some simple yet deep ones just to evaluate how I am doing.
This is one of those times.
From the minimalist tribe in this 27th-week edition, the admin is asking us to share how we slow things down when life feels like it's moving too fast.
For someone who has anxiety, life and everything associated with the experience of living moves at a faster pace than my slow being. I prefer long seconds flowing into even longer minutes for my weird side to digest anything my complex artistic mind captures.
What I mean is I wish there was a way I could freeze some fast disappearing moments and bask in their glory long enough for me to have an album of memories unpacking the most magical details of each as I try to create or make sense out of every last one but there is no way.
Life is meant to happen faster than I want it and this creates friction between my empath, artist and parent. I then have to look for a way to silence the riots in my head or the storm that brews beneath my skin.
Grounding Myself
For me to envision a few clear steps, grounding myself in the present moment is crucial as I tend to disassociate. If it is unbearable, I look for a healthy escape like soothing rain sounds, podcasts of brown noise or music.
I might settle for a few meditation sessions or a few hours of dancing to attempt to shed off any negative vibes withholding my spirit.
I also turn to reading sad and dark poetry if none of the already mentioned tricks can't seem to help ease me back to my sanity. Good films or documentaries help me leave my mental borderline even just for a while.
Creating Balance
I always apply balance back to my rhythm of life by creating and nurturing. Be it through writing, art, farming or looking after my brood. The intrusive thoughts that come as reminders of how life might be slipping away or how everyone else seems to be doing much better than I can only leave when I engage in what generates my gratitude.
Like every other man, my life feels like it is never moving at the pace I want it to and I am prone to feeling like I am always behind the expectations schedule but I have found ways to restore that balance here.
Theatre also helps me relax but going there is a bit expensive as is attending poetry events and exploring coffee houses.
Driving somewhere secluded to reconnect with nature would be a thing too but I don't own a car yet. It would aid in countryside escapes and I am sure that would do me good but for now, I can only hope.
At the end of the day, what I think we all forget is there is no way we can do it all. And there is also no need to compete with life or its unrealistic pace.
wambuku w.
