SLOWING DOWN
enjoy, rather than doing as many
things as I can or those that I believe
“I should” be doing, I can make
my life more meaningful without
sacrificing my zest for life and
achievement.
I still have a long way to go, but at
least I have advanced enough to begin to
look for opportunities and to focus on
those things that bring me joy, even when
there is something else I could be doing
at the same time.
Have you considered what you could
be doing that you aren’t? Or, are you
rushing through to get to something else
that is not nearly as important to you?
Perhaps, you may want to apply your
brakes and slow down, just as I have. The
flowers do smell great, and our sunsets
are spectacular.
Publisher / Editor
The P ublisher Po stulates
9
IHAVE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE
moving as fast as I can to do as
much as I can by multitasking and
staying on the run. I went to college
at the age of 15 and graduated from
law school in two years. I consistently
tried to speed up my life by biting off
more than I could chew and then
swallowing it in one big gulp. I mean that
literally, as I was usually the first to finish
my meal and would often eat while
driving, or while doing at least two other
things. I never felt overloaded and
believed that I could handle anything
that I had an opportunity to touch. I
volunteered for whatever came my way
and headed all types of arts, charitable
and religious organizations.
Those who know me well understand
what I mean when I say that I have lived
three lives and have enjoyed each one of
them. I never saw a need to stop and
smell the flowers, or even to yield to stop
signs. With me, it has always been go, go,
go. However, as I grow older, I am getting
wiser and have begun to realize that less
can be more; and that by slowing down,
I might even enjoy life more fully than
By Aaron R. Fodiman
Relaxing has never been one of my strong points,
but sometimes you find that you are ready
to settle in for a good sit.
I had previously.
Some of that wisdom was forced on
me, as I began to develop some more
mature viewpoints and age-related health
issues. But, I can’t attribute my change in
attitude to that alone. I’m getting older,
which is inevitable, but I am also learning
from those who I love and respect.
I think my sudden change of heart
came about when I tried slowing down
and found that I actually enjoyed it.
Relaxing and resting were not as bad as
I had believed them to be; and the more
I did it, the more I began to see the virtues
of pausing to watch a sunset. I am not
referring to idleness for, certainly, it is not
that I am loafing about, but rather that
I’m allowing myself more time to do
things that are important to me. This is
not an easy task; but I find that if I spend
a little more time doing things I truly
24 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2015