Apparently, the faster we move, the slower time passes. If we were to move at the speed of light, time would stop. To stop time would be to live forever. But forever would have no meaning in the context of no time. So theoretically, the faster I move, the less time passes and less time = less meaning. Conversely then, to add meaning, I must slow down. I believe to move slow is to act with thoughtfulness and careful consideration, and to move fast is to act some combination of haphazardly, recklessly, thoughtlessly. I believe those who thrive on power, seek control. I believe by moving fast (slowing time) I feel more in control and by moving slow (allowing time to pass) I feel more uncertain. I believe control is delusion, and I believe uncertainty is reality. Thus power tends toward reckless, haphazard, thoughtless, (and sometimes) delusional actions. Yet to move slow, though more authentic, is to be taken advantage of and/or shunted aside and/or left behind. So if I am determined to live a thoughtful, considered, more meaningful life, I will have less influence. Conversely then, less meaning = more influence. Many would disagree, but I believe the mistake made by many is synonymizing influence with meaning. Influence is not meaning. In practice, when one's influence stems from one's desire for power and control and/or from one's entitlement, meaning is watered down. In today's busy world, one can cause, one can create, one can be important, consequential, even substantial, and still be empty; or worse yet, toxic. And to exacerbate the circumstance, watered down meaning is (I believe on some level) recognized as such by the fast-moving individual, thus encouraging him or her to move even faster in search of more meaning; and of course, in this playbook, meaning equates to influence. We are back where we began. And the results of these ongoing, misguided attempts to justify one's existence? Chaos and dissatisfaction. The alternative, Peace, brought about by slowing down and living a thoughtful, considered, more meaningful life, is infinitely more complex than the superficiality required for haphazard, reckless or thoughtless; and the resulting unsettled peace from this complexity also builds personal dissatisfaction, though one that is perhaps more resigned as opposed to the frantic dissatisfaction of the fast-moving individual. So we have the erratic pinball-bumper-car actions of those full of certainty and desperate to influence on their imaginary playing field, juxtaposed against the seemingly unmoving thinkers on the sidelines and the raucous cheering herd in the stadium seats. Unlike an actual sporting competition though, in this game the influencers on the field ignore the play-calling thinkers on the sidelines, and are actually motivated more by their followers in the stands. We need a timeout to realign and prioritize. We need a more equitable balance of athleticism and strategy. We need to slow down, acknowledge the uncertainty, and develop contingencies. We need to expand the playing field until it is no longer a playing field, and there are no longer opposing teams. Being should not be a spectator sport. Influence is not meaning, and consequence (today) is seldom progress. Accounting for all of Life, (past, present, and future), we will move further, faster if we slow down. Instead of working to move at the speed of light, we should aspire to move at the speed of profundity.

…we should slow down.