Carb counting within a nice walk

We are becoming a society without patience. As new technology surfaces we are continually held captive through instant gratification. Eventually wherever we reside will be similar to living in New York City, where anything you want is attainable anytime. While Internet speeds become faster, and social networking sites become more accessible from our cellular phones, we are moving faster and faster throughout our daily routine. We have become so impatient we skip voice mail messages because ten seconds wasted is ten seconds of annoyance. Yet, 15 years ago leaving a message meant recording your voice on a cassette answer machine. How fast will we be going in the next 15 years?

Today’s trend is instant self-gratification. How fast can I lose twenty pounds? How fast can I download the latest Brittany Spears album? How fast can I make a fortune? How fast can I locate the pizza delivery number? How fast can I look up the movie times on a Thursday night? It all comes back to technology, from benchmarking your jogging stats with Nike Plus, to getting directions to the airport on MapQuest, technology is taking away the search and effort out of our lives.

We seem to run more, especially now since we wear high performance running shoes. We seem to multitask more while watching Entourage on HBO, looking up information about the show on IMDB, and talking on the phone all simultaneously. There are numerous benefits of our technological advances as a global society. However, we are all becoming more of a conqueror and less of an explorer. We have declared war on obtaining our goals the fastest way possible, and forgotten about the struggle of self-identity and reflection.

Moving from one place to another has become strictly about transportation or exercise. Life passes us faster than even these days. What does it mean to slow down this sprint to the finish line? When we bring down the rapid tempo, we allow ourselves to capture the moment entirely. We allow ourselves to go in a state of mediation and reflect upon life. There is the old cliché, “stop and smell and the roses,” which is the thesis of slowing down life. This feat is our own personal therapy session.

Putting the brakes on living is as simple as going for a walk. Your mind cannot process clearly unless you give it the time to. Running is beneficial for your health, while it keeps your heart strong, strengthens your legs, and burns calories. Walking is beneficial for your mind. It clears your head, allows you to appreciate your environment through all five senses, and relaxes your psyche. Going for a walk is a gift to you, as everybody needs a timeout to reflect about his or her actions. Just as the timeout chair you feared so much in kindergarten you deserve a timeout today because patience is a virtue, and that virtue is under attack.