I recently went electric skateboarding with my family. We had so much fun. At first they weren't interested in doing it.
While we were skateboarding my dad stated that I should be a pro and I should be able to make the turns and go fast.
I thought about that for a while and came up with a metaphor.
I'm a pro so I go slow.
I felt more comfortable going at a slower pace on the skateboard. I wasn't trying to race anyone. I was enjoying myself. When I go fast on the skateboard, I feel more nervous. I couldn't always make the turns on my skateboard, so I would stop and turn the skateboard by hand. I knew my limits and didn't try to stretch myself too much.
I could also use that metaphor for so many things in my life.
I'm not in a race with anyone in my life. I do things at my own pace and when I want to do them. There is nothing wrong with doing things at your own pace. It may take you longer than someone else but you will still get to where you want to be.
For example, most of my friends are married or have kids. I'm still not married and have no kids. I decided that I'm not going to be in a relationship or have kids until I'm ready for it. Right now, I'm taking my time.
My dad also asked me where I get my adventurous spirit from. I didn't have an answer for that. I guess I've always been adventurous, I'm just now letting it out. For a long time, I was content with being in the shadows of my life instead of stepping into the light. I was content with just staying at home on my days off and not doing things by myself. Now I love to try things. Don't get me wrong, I still love to be at home and be by myself. I still love my alone time.
I've just learned that I have to stop comparing myself to other people. Everything will happen when it's supposed to happen. Until it happens, I'll try to be a pro and go slow. I'm slowly learning my limits. I'm learning what is comfortable for me and what is not.
What could you take slow in your life instead of trying to rush?
I also can apply this metaphor to reaching my dreams. I learn so much from the process of reaching my dreams than when my dreams as actually realized.
The last time I was losing weight, I realized that it was a process. I had already learned how to lose weight quickly but I never learned how to maintain that weight loss. This last time, I realized that it was an every day process. I couldn't just do a fad diet for months if I wanted to maintain my weight loss. I had to find a lifestyle that I could do every day. I had to take it slow and learn to make better choices every day with the food that I put into my body. I also learned that some dreams take time. It took me months to lose 50 pounds. It wasn't an overnight process. I went slow and lost the weight.