One of my favorite visual mantras is a huge “slow down” sign. I visualize it popping up randomly around my house as a cue to let go of that nagging anxiety telling me that I need to be doing something productive at all times. The feeling that I’m not doing enough follows me around and clouds the present moment. Especially now, with the recent publication of Sticky Note Mantras, my gigantic to-do list looms over me.
That brings me to the song based part of this mantra. “My List” is a country song by Toby Keith that I hum when the slow down sign makes an appearance . Here are some of the lyrics:
Under an old brass paperweight
Is my list of things to do today
Go to the bank and the hardware store
Put a new lock on the cellar door
I cross ’em off as I get ’em done
But when the sun is settled
There’s still more than a few things left
I haven’t got to yet
Go for a walk, say a little prayer
Take a deep breath of mountain air
Put on my glove and play some catch
It’s time that I make time for that
Wade the shore and cast a line
Look up an old lost friend of mine
Sit on the porch and give my girl a kiss
Start livin’, that’s the next thing on my list
Yes, no matter how many things I have on my list, “just start living” needs to be there front and center, multiple times a day! Society pressures us to believe we will feel enough as soon as we check off items on our list. It tells us the more we accomplish, the better we will feel. But…..what if that’s not the case? What if we need a balance and need to consciously carve out time to open up to real experiences as well? Otherwise, a great big cycle of checking things off of our list may never leave us fulfilled. The slow down sign coupled with this song is the perfect cue to open up to real life experiences every day. Check one or two things off of your list and then shift into mindfulness mode and be present and get out of your head. Show up for your own life! The balance you will achieve is more fulfilling than you can imagine.
