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That moment a stranger at the coffee shop told me to slow down | Everyday Epiphanies - Chatter Central

That moment a stranger at the coffee shop told me to slow down

I was rushing through my order at the local Java House on Elm Street, barely looking up from my phone. The guy behind the counter just said "Hey, the beans aren't going anywhere" and smiled. It hit me that I've been treating every small errand like a race for years. Has anyone else had a random person's comment actually change how you move through your day?

4 comments

4 Comments

emery1994mo ago

Three years ago at a Dunkin' on Route 9, this older woman tapped my arm while I was practically sprinting for the door with my coffee. She said "Where's the fire, honey?" and I just froze. I still catch myself treating a trip to the grocery store like I'm in a time trial. My own brain's the worst about it too, like I'm gonna miss some imaginary deadline for buying milk.

bennett.nora4mo ago

Read somewhere that rushing actually makes you more forgetful and stressed.

norab213mo ago

@emery199 that Dunkin story really got me... my own brain does the same trick where I'll be walking to the mailbox like someone's timing me. Last month at the park I was powerwalking past this bench and an old man called out "The squirrels aren't going anywhere either" and I actually laughed out loud. Made me realize I've been rushing to absolutely nothing for years now. The weird thing is slowing down feels almost uncomfortable at first, like I'm doing something wrong by not hurrying. But then you notice the sky or the way the steam curls off your cup and it's like... oh yeah, this is what being alive is supposed to feel like.

elliotm703mo ago

norab21 hit the nail on the head about it being uncomfortable at first. It's like your brain gets addicted to the hurry and mistakes that rush for productivity.

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