Slow Down Get Ahead

Cap Kotz
Cap Kotz
Jul 21, 2017 · 4 min read
An ancient story

The Tortoise and the Hare, one of Aesop’s Fables, tells the tale between unequal partners, Over the years, it has attracted conflicting interpretations. The story could be told that the hare ridiculed the slow moving turtle, was a bully, and the turtle believed in self, doggedly persevered and won the race!

Rabbit has another name, Rush Ahead, and Turtle is called Slow Down. Most of us know Rush Ahead very well. Get up, get clean and fed, plan the day, transport, arrive, settle in, projects everywhere and things elsewhere to worry about like a sick kid and a dying dog and bills to be paid. Dinner has to be planned, the birthday party next week, and where is there time to visit family that you have been meaning to visit in a long time? Pressure coming at you from all directions, it’s easier to keep rushing forward then even catch your breath.

At some point Rush Ahead, who has accomplished a long list of things, burns out. This can mean a crash into depression, eating or drinking binges, self loathing or other terrible activity. What Rush Ahead needs is a partner. Slow Down, aka Turtle, is perfect for the job. A long To Do list is common, we all have them. Each item on the list will evoke a different emotion or reaction Typically, the ones that evoke ‘negative” response will be put aside for later. This is a good recipe for procrastination. When procrastination gets strong, a crash is imminent.

“Rush Ahead, follow my voice.”

Slow Down helps to take on a negative To Do list item and get it done. As Rush Ahead pulls away from the start line, Slow Down says, “Lengthen your back stride by three inches.”

“What?” Rush Ahead calls back over a shoulder, but doesn’t have time to bother with an answer. there is so much to do, after all!

Slow Down knows how to make the most of every movement for leverage. Each movement is a subtle shift, a flow of relaxed strength. Rush Ahead bunches the big muscles for fast paced action, neglects moving toward the core and forward at the same time. One thing Slow Down does not know are the steps to tell others about, how to be more mindful of slow movements as a source of mind, body, emotional well being.

You can sign up for a yoga class, slo-mo shadowboxing or tai chi. These practices teach you how to slow down and increase intentional movement toward the core. These practices strengthen and heal. But, so can the movements in your everyday life. Slow down your walk for 30 seconds. Focus on the back stride, see if you can lengthen it by three inches. Push back against the ground. Visualize Slow Down, aka Turtle, extending the back leg as long as possible to get more traction and forward momentum. Visualize a track athlete doing the same thing

Gotta get this done!

Can you slow down the circular movement of washing a plate? Karate Kid I made this movement famous. Wax on wax off. A dish works just as well as a car. Empty your mind of all the rush ahead thoughts and feel what your body is doing as you wash the dish. Are your shoulders tense, your pelvic bowl tilted to the rear? What about your head, is it jaw first, shortening the neck muscles?

Wash the dish, focus on the circular motion. Visualize your knees stacked over your feet, your pelvic bowl stacked over your knees, your shoulders stacked over pelvic bowl and your neck in line with the spine. Let the movement flow through you. If you have your headphones on, follow the music.

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