Do you feel like you’re racing through life? Do you often
think you’re never going to get everything you planned to do finished by the
end of the day? I’m one of these life runners. I plan more than I can
realistically accomplish in 16 hours of daylight.
I remember reading a story about roasting a marshmallow over
an open fire. First, you put it on a roasting stick, and then you hold it near
the flames. When it turns a light brown, you pull it out, look at it, then
proceed to roast it some more. Now, it turns a darker brown, but you return it
to the fire again. Suddenly, the marshmallow starts to puff up. Maybe only a
few seconds pass, but you aren’t quick enough, so it bursts into flames. Now
you have a charred, ruined treat.
Life is like that blackened marshmallow. Every time you try
to squeeze in one more task, another obligation, or run one more errand, you’ve
cheated yourself out of time that you should be setting aside for your own
enjoyment or peaceful contemplation. You’ve raced through the day, and taken no
time for yourself—to read a book, watch a television show, work on a favorite
craft, chat with a friend, tinker in your workshop, and the list goes on and on.
Sometimes it’s necessary to not only live for today, but
also to enjoy it as well. Will I stop being a life runner? Probably not. But I’m
trying hard to slow down, pace myself, set priorities, enjoy the moment, and reserve
some precious time for myself.
I’m trying hard not to be a burnt marshmallow.