There is no rush.

For those of you who didn’t know, I’m approximately 39 weeks pregnant right now (traditionally that’s out of 40). Which means this baby could come at any moment, maybe even as I write this post. I don’t have a clear plan for my maternity leave, but if you find me absent, re-posting old material; or if we’re all unlucky, audio-clips from my labor— don’t be too surprised.On that note, this guided meditation is about slowing down. We live in a world that rushes around a lot. Our culture loves to be caffeinated, productive, and efficient. The more ‘conveniences’ that enter our lives to save us time, the more ways we find to fill that time with other stuff.We do not often stop to assess what exactly it is that we are rushing towards. What is driving me to be so efficient, to get so much done? It feels good to get a lot done, to be productive, but why? Is it because when I’m productive, I feel like I’m not a failure in the eyes of society? Is the stuff I’m doing stuff that actually what matters, to me? Or is it someone else’s idea of achievement, of success? And what about when we can’t be productive? Do you feel at all down on yourself when you don’t get a lot done?Your generosity really helps! To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.If we are only worthy of love if we’re getting s**t done all the time, then we’re all fucked. Because at some point, we’re going to get sick, old, and eventually, the ultimate failure: death. Some of us have to learn how to slow down the hard way. Lyme disease is what did it for me, and it has been the best teacher that I’ve ever had, that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Maybe the next time your agenda get’s thrown out of whack because you get sick, injured, or some other unfortunate turn of events comes to pass, you can take it as a sign from the universe, a lesson in slowing down.Sometimes the universe does this. It forces us to have perspective on things. It tries to shake us awake, saying, “is this thing you’re rushing around trying to do actually worth sacrificing your peace for? It’s time to stop and notice the abundance of this moment.” The more I practice, the less I can justify sacrificing my peace for.Maybe you’re the kind of person who really likes to take their time, to move slowly, to savor things. But you live in a world where you’re constantly being bombarded by emails, texts, tasks, and demands. It feels like the only way to keep up is to run. But actually, no one can make you rush. That’s all you. You can still move slowly, if that’s what’s important to you. People in your life will learn that if they want to hang out with you, they’re going to have to stop running. Maybe even lie down.Or maybe you’re not the slow type. Maybe you have a bunch of exuberant energy and you just get a lot of s**t done with it. Well, let that actually come from a place of your own enthusiasm, and check to see if there’s something you’re not wanting to feel when you can’t move quickly. See if you find it difficult to pause, and why it’s difficult.We probably all have some combination of a slow poke and a hyperactive child inside of us, so we’ll all get to practice with both of these. But no matter what your type or what state you’re in, what I want for us all is to be here for this moment— not to miss the sunsets, the way it smells after it rains, the way it feels to swallow a bite of food. If we are always rushing to make everything right with the world, we forget to actually experience it. Even as the world seems to be falling apart, it is always beckoning us home to be present with it, to love it, to live. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caralai.substack.com/subscribe