The reminder I needed this week…

I’ve spent the past week up north with my family at the cottage. Zorik’s been working, so it’s been a lot of unstructured time with the kids—and not much “productive” work from me.

Of course, there were plenty of moments of frustration and irritation (parenting seems to provide those in endless supply). But what was missing was my usual drive to accomplish. I had to let go of wanting to get things done, cross tasks off my list, or feel productive. Instead, I found myself simply being with my kids—just hanging out, without an agenda.

We're so accomplishment-driven as a culture; it pervades every aspect of our living, but when we focus solely on the the end goal, we really miss out on the living part. I get caught up in this all the time, get the website done, get dinner on the table, finish the latest project. Can you relate? 

Imagine the purpose of music was to play faster and faster to get to the end, while it wouldn't be music anymore, it would simply be a loud crash, the last chord. We would never ask that of music, and yet we ask that of almost every other aspect of our lives. Rushing to the end.

My question to us is, where can we slow down this week and be absorbed in the process, in living and let go of our desire to have already arrived?