Slowing Down: A Lesson I Never Knew I Needed
I haven’t done this in a long while—writing from my heart. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved speed. Anyone who has ever driven with me or ridden in my car knows this. I love getting to my destination fast. I like getting things done quickly—my work, my cooking, even dressing up. Sometimes, I even apply speed when I kiss and… (lol, just joking).
But for most of my life, I never truly valued rest. I always thought slowing down was risky—that if I wasn’t moving fast, I was falling behind.
Look at me now. Life gave me no choice but to stop and rewalk my path, and surprisingly, it didn’t kill me. Instead, it gave me time to reflect. For the first time, I feel like a 25-year-old actually living, not just running.
I realized that a lot of my busyness wasn’t even for me—it was for others. And guess what? With or without me, life goes on. People survive, people enjoy, and the world doesn’t stop spinning.
I started thinking about the goals I had been chasing and the friendships I had been holding onto. And something hit me—not everything I was running after was as meaningful as I once thought. Some of the people I rarely spoke to were the ones checking up on me the most. Even when I could barely talk for more than ten seconds, they still called, just to hear my voice. They didn’t mind doing all the talking while I just listened. That alone meant so much.
On the other hand, the people I held closest, the ones I thought would show concern, barely checked in. Maybe that’s a reflection of how I’ve treated them too—who knows? Maybe, like me, they’ve been too busy to pause. Maybe they’ve been living the same way I used to—always rushing, always working, always too occupied to notice what truly matters.
Yesterday, I spent hours in the parlor watching Money Heist. I sat there glued to the screen, and honestly, it felt strange. It felt strange because, for the first time, I wasn’t working. I wasn’t running to the next thing. I was just… present. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. I used to be so busy that even something as simple as watching TV felt like a luxury.
Through all this, my family had my back. They always have.
I can’t wait to get better. And when I do, I have to apply a new approach to life. If I can’t finish something in a day, I won’t stress over it. No more rushing through life—no more speed in eating, cooking, dressing, or even driving (well, maybe I’ll make an exception for driving, lol).
But beyond that, this is my time to do things differently. To choose friendships wisely. To understand that not everyone has to be my friend. This experience has taught me that speed is fun, but it’s not everything. We rush to achieve things before anyone else. We want friendships to form instantly. We put pressure on ourselves to do everything fast.
But why?
What’s the hurry?
I’m not choosing speed anymore. No more deadlines that take away my peace. No more pressure to meet expectations that don’t even matter. I’ll rest when I need to rest. If the world will end because I slowed down, then let it end. If a friend doesn’t have the patience to build something naturally, then let them go. Because no matter what you do, some people will never be satisfied.
Friendship isn’t about constantly asking, “What have you done for me so far?” That’s the wrong way to measure it—especially a new friendship. And if you must ask that question, ask yourself the same thing too: What have I done for this person?
Friendship should never feel like a transaction, where we compare who has given more. Everyone is different. People express love in their own ways—some through words, some through actions, some through presence, and others through gifts. If a friendship no longer serves you, it’s okay to walk away. But don’t ruin it by turning it into a competition of who has done more.
True friendships aren’t about keeping track. They’re about mutual respect and understanding.
Pray for friends who are bold enough to tell you when you’ve wronged them instead of discussing it with outsiders who don’t even understand your relationship. Pray for friends who appreciate the simple things—togetherness, understanding, and love—without making it a contest of who is more romantic or available.
Because over time, things change.
And unfortunately, some people lack the foresight to see that.
Slowing Down: A Lesson I Never Knew I Needed
I haven’t done this in a long while—writing from my heart. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved speed. Anyone who has ever driven with me or ridden in my car knows this. I love getting to my destination fast. I like getting things done quickly—my work, my cooking, even dressing up. Sometimes, I even apply speed when I kiss and… (lol, just joking).
But for most of my life, I never truly valued rest. I always thought slowing down was risky—that if I wasn’t moving fast, I was falling behind.
Look at me now. Life gave me no choice but to stop and rewalk my path, and surprisingly, it didn’t kill me. Instead, it gave me time to reflect. For the first time, I feel like a 25-year-old actually living, not just running.
I realized that a lot of my busyness wasn’t even for me—it was for others. And guess what? With or without me, life goes on. People survive, people enjoy, and the world doesn’t stop spinning.
I started thinking about the goals I had been chasing and the friendships I had been holding onto. And something hit me—not everything I was running after was as meaningful as I once thought. Some of the people I rarely spoke to were the ones checking up on me the most. Even when I could barely talk for more than ten seconds, they still called, just to hear my voice. They didn’t mind doing all the talking while I just listened. That alone meant so much.
On the other hand, the people I held closest, the ones I thought would show concern, barely checked in. Maybe that’s a reflection of how I’ve treated them too—who knows? Maybe, like me, they’ve been too busy to pause. Maybe they’ve been living the same way I used to—always rushing, always working, always too occupied to notice what truly matters.
Yesterday, I spent hours in the parlor watching Money Heist. I sat there glued to the screen, and honestly, it felt strange. It felt strange because, for the first time, I wasn’t working. I wasn’t running to the next thing. I was just… present. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. I used to be so busy that even something as simple as watching TV felt like a luxury.
Through all this, my family had my back. They always have.
I can’t wait to get better. And when I do, I have to apply a new approach to life. If I can’t finish something in a day, I won’t stress over it. No more rushing through life—no more speed in eating, cooking, dressing, or even driving (well, maybe I’ll make an exception for driving, lol).
But beyond that, this is my time to do things differently. To choose friendships wisely. To understand that not everyone has to be my friend. This experience has taught me that speed is fun, but it’s not everything. We rush to achieve things before anyone else. We want friendships to form instantly. We put pressure on ourselves to do everything fast.
But why?
What’s the hurry?
I’m not choosing speed anymore. No more deadlines that take away my peace. No more pressure to meet expectations that don’t even matter. I’ll rest when I need to rest. If the world will end because I slowed down, then let it end. If a friend doesn’t have the patience to build something naturally, then let them go. Because no matter what you do, some people will never be satisfied.
Friendship isn’t about constantly asking, “What have you done for me so far?” That’s the wrong way to measure it—especially a new friendship. And if you must ask that question, ask yourself the same thing too: What have I done for this person?
Friendship should never feel like a transaction, where we compare who has given more. Everyone is different. People express love in their own ways—some through words, some through actions, some through presence, and others through gifts. If a friendship no longer serves you, it’s okay to walk away. But don’t ruin it by turning it into a competition of who has done more.
True friendships aren’t about keeping track. They’re about mutual respect and understanding.
Pray for friends who are bold enough to tell you when you’ve wronged them instead of discussing it with outsiders who don’t even understand your relationship. Pray for friends who appreciate the simple things—togetherness, understanding, and love—without making it a contest of who is more romantic or available.
Because over time, things change.
And unfortunately, some people lack the foresight to see that.
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