Slowing Down to See Life Clearly

 For reasons I have yet to fully discover, I am drawn to high places where I can gaze upon a city, a village, or whatever else appears from a distant view. Perhaps it helps me withdraw from the hurried moments that consume us when we’re close to them and allows me to distance myself. It feels like a hand pulling me out of battle (like those fought by Alexander against the Persians) and placing me far away, giving me the luxury of feeling both protected and understanding the stillness that comes when you observe your life from afar. 

 I often reflect on how much motion there is—not only in the streets but also in our lives. A constant rush to arrive, to live, to enjoy, to create, to speak. Why do we choose to fill our lives with haste? When was the last time we truly listened to the silence?

 We’ve been promised that a successful life—often equated with financial comfort—has specific criteria for achievement. Yet, we’ve also been encouraged to protect ourselves from the pressures of others, from exploitation, servitude, and slavery. This is why we seek everything quickly, easily, and without pain. It sounds ideal. But it isn’t.

 It isn’t because all these criteria have been created by people with a single goal: profit—primarily financial, but also fame and power.

 We seem trapped by our own demands, confined within prisons of our own making. We chase our own tails and can never quite catch them. When we add societal expectations, traditions, and the “shoulds” we are told to follow, it becomes clear that our haste will eventually lead us to a dead end.

 So, next time, let’s at least remember: if we don’t redefine our goals and understand the value of time, we’re simply rushing toward our own stagnation. 

 What if, instead, we slowed down, set our own criteria, and abandoned these so-called “objective” truths? What if we pursued our own virtues, but always with the aim of collective good and personal salvation?

 Let us remember: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Perhaps in meekness, in slowing down, and in embracing silence lies true freedom. And so, I ask you: what would you see if you stepped away from the darkness and into the light?