For Fast-Acting Relief, Try Slowing Down

This headline is a quote attributed to Lily Tomlin, and although she’s a comedian, she makes a serious point. 

Life has a way of guiding us to the lessons we need, often in the most unexpected moments. Recently, while babysitting a seventeen-month-old boy, I was reminded of this. We were taking a leisurely walk, moving at his curious, unhurried pace. At one point, he found a wing of a cicada and handed it to me. It was like holding a piece of stained glass—a delicate marvel of nature. His innocence mirrored my own, drawing me into the present and highlighting the miracles that unfold when we simply stop and breathe.

In many ways, life has been calling me to slow down. I have a hip replacement scheduled for July, and coming to terms with this has been its own journey. Long walks, once so grounding for me, have become a rarity. Crawling alongside a toddler is about the extent of my walking these days. My deteriorating mobility has forced me to sit with myself, a challenging but enlightening experience.

Now, I immerse myself in practices like qi gong and eurythmy, which harmonize energy, breath, and movement. Eurythmy, in particular, has a wonderful practice called 3-fold walking, breaking down each step into: Lift, Carry, Place. This meditative movement helps me connect to my body from a different perspective.

Often, I sit in my backyard, letting nature speak to me. Since the two recent eclipses, I've felt the earth's energy shifting, sometimes intensely. It's like a soul-level cleansing, as if we're being wrung out like a sponge, releasing old energy.

When I first experienced the hip pain, I turned to alternative methods, like breathwork and acupuncture. My mindset was clear: I’m going to heal myself! However, it took an X-ray two years later to reveal the necessity of surgery. This led me to question: Why had I ignored the pain and the messages from my body for so long?

Reflecting on my childhood, I see a pattern. Despite being deaf, I was placed in mainstream classrooms, with the unspoken message: Don’t be different. Fit into the hearing world. 

Others didn't listen to my needs, so I learned to ignore my own. Despite all the inner work, I still sometimes fall into unawareness.

A lot of my own trauma landed in the area of my hip, which is about stepping into my power and standing in my truth. 

This journey has opened my eyes to how much our ego can interfere with our body's needs. Thankfully, breathwork has the power to quiet the ego, connecting us to a universal energy and wisdom that transcends all else. As I slow down and listen now, I hear a clear message: Enjoy this time. It’s a period of rest and reflection, with renewal awaiting on the other side.

As a society, we must ask ourselves: How are we listening to our collective needs? If we are all part of one body, what messages are we receiving from this body? Can we approach it from a place of community and oneness?

In these times of great transformation, may we find the courage to slow down, breathe, and truly listen to the profound wisdom within and around us.

For even the wisest can learn incalculably much from children. –Rudolf Steiner