“Close your eyes and turn your face into the wind. Feel it sweep along your skin in an invisible ocean of exultation. Suddenly, you know you are alive.” ~ Vera Nazarian

There’s something refreshing about a windy day. Feeling the air blow past your skin, ruffling your hair. It’s refreshing and invigorating, especially if not accompanied by rain. At night, safely ensconced in my vehicle or home, the sound of the wind outside the walls and windows makes me feel safe. The sounds of leaves skipping along the pavement or the creaking of tree branches delights my senses.

Sometimes I need a reminder that even though I can’t see it, I can feel the wind’s power and see it’s effects. Often, I find that words can hold the same power if read correctly.

I love to read and always have several books in play – audible books that I listen to in the car, books by the side of my bed, books on my Kindle, a book near chairs where I often sit. I am part of an online book club and the book for this month is different — it’s not so much a story as it is random thoughts memoir-style. At first, I was put off by the style of writing. I have a favored author whose work I adore and he also writes in anecdotal style, but I have come to expect that. This book was by an author I’d not read previously and was unfamiliar with her work.

I started listening on Audible, but the sections were so disjointed it did not flow cohesively. I’m used to a story that flows from one chapter to the next — these were random musings. I quite literally had to stop listening for a couple of days and then start over. The book is written in short segments and so I began to listen to a segment each day instead of several a day, one right after the other. The goal is to enjoy the book, not rush through it. When I took this slower approach, I actually began to enjoy the book and the author’s style of writing.

In a moment of clarity, I realized that I often do this with life as well. Rushing through my day, attempting to accomplish as much as possible. What if I slowed down and was present in each thing that I did instead of doing my work while thinking of what else I needed to accomplish? How much more enjoyable would life be if I just slowed down a wee bit? Instead of feeling rushed, I could feel more at ease and fully realize how much I do accomplish each day.

Much like when the wind blows there are multiple facets to reading. With the wind, I can see the trees blowing, hear it rushing past my head whirling my hair, and feel it against my skin. With words, when I slow down, I can feel the nuance of the author’s thoughts, let the words sink in and consider how her thoughts affect mine and possibly my future actions.

“I’m in a hurry to get things done,

Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun!

All I gotta do is live and die,

but I’m in a hurry and don’t know why!”

~ Alabama

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