The Hurried Life

Trapped in a Cycle of Busyness

Appointments, routines, deadlines, meetings, activities, events—the list never seems to end. These things are woven into the fabric of life for most people. While they can be fulfilling and even enjoyable at times, they can also push us into what I call the hurried life—a life filled with endless to-do lists, obligations, and constant movement. It’s a life that leaves little room to pause, breathe, and simply be.

image by wayhomestudio

How do I know this so well? Because I’m in the process of releasing myself from it. And I say process because, like anything meaningful, it takes time. My desire to escape this way of living came from one simple realization: my hurried life was robbing me of the ability to truly enjoy life.

Running on Empty

Each day, I would wake up with a long list of tasks, only to realize by nightfall that half of them remained undone. I would collapse into bed exhausted, unsure of how I even fell asleep. Morning would come, and despite having rested, I still felt drained—my mind racing with all the things I hadn’t accomplished. I convinced myself that this was normal. After all, isn’t this just the life of a wife and mother? I told myself that if I kept pushing through, one day I’d finally be able to enjoy the time I had left.

The Unseen Toll on My Loved Ones

What I didn’t realize was that the people I share my life with weren’t enjoying my hurried state any more than I was. My family would often point out how overworked and irritable I had become. But instead of listening, I would respond with, “If I don’t do it, who will?”

Looking back, I’m sure their unspoken response was, “But we never asked for all of it to be done.”

Image by pch.vector

A Wake-Up Call in the Form of an Injury

Life, no matter how fast we’re moving, is always speaking. And sometimes, it yells. My wake-up call came in the form of a severe injury—I severed my ring finger.

For the first time, I was forced to be still. At first, I resisted, fighting against the stillness like a mother bear protecting her cubs. But in the end, life’s “slow down” button won. The pain was so intense that I had no choice but to relinquish my title as Queen of Hurry and Do Everything.

Lessons Learned in the Stillness

That year of recovery became one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I learned that I never truly sat still, that I loved being in control, and that I struggled with letting others help me. But I also learned some invaluable lessons:

• My family is incredible.

• Stillness and self-reflection are gifts, not burdens.

• Not every task has to be completed the moment I think of it.

• The most profound lesson of all? Life is best lived at a slower pace.

Now, I take my time. I soak in the little moments. I am present. Because life isn’t meant to be hurried—it’s meant to be lived.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”-Lao Tzu