That title might sound familiar to you if you’re a country music fan. Lately my local radio station has I’m In A Hurry in their rotation, and I started thinking how we’re still in a big hurry today, over three decades later.
But why?
In September 1992 Alabama released this song, and it became their 31st number one hit! At the same time, cell phones were just making their way into mainstream living. By the end of the 90’s many of us were walking around with a phone in our pocket, and the pace of life was picking up.
The chorus of I’m In A Hurry captures it perfectly — rushing and rushing until life’s no fun, living and dying somewhere in between, and still not knowing why.
Don’t those words still ring true? We’re all running around getting things done but do we know why? What are we doing between the living and dying that the songwriters refer to in this song?
Maybe the more important question is…
Why don’t we know why?
If all we really need to do is live and die, then why don’t we care more about how we are filling that space?
Juxtapose Alabama’s I’m In A Hurry with Zac Brown Band’s Homegrown.
Homegrown flips that entirely. The opening verse is a man lying back, smelling Georgia pine warming in the sun, asking himself why he’d ever leave. The chorus distills it down to eight words: “I’ve got everything I need, nothing that I don’t.”
What a difference! Which lifestyle do you want? Slowing down and smelling the pine, so to speak, sounds way better to me.
What say you?
Now, I’m not saying we all should run out and buy a piece of land in the countryside. I’m saying it’s slowing our roll, appreciating what we have, not always desiring what others have, and living in the moment, that gives us the sense of peace and harmony so many of us seek.
Today I live in a small desert city, Surprise, Arizona. We don’t have any high-rise skyscrapers, we still have some agricultural land, but it’s disappearing fast. Our population is 172,943 and growing. But it’s still small enough to feel connected to nature and my neighbors.
I once lived in rural Hanceville, Alabama on twelve acres, where my late husband and I had a small herd of cattle and a huge garden. We loved that lifestyle — close to family, the land, and our small community. We might have stayed if it weren’t for my husband’s medical challenges. But even if he had lived, it’s unlikely we could manage that way of life today, in our senior years.
But honestly, it’s more about how you live your life, not so much where.
Do You Know What You Want?
Is it going to be hurry, hurry, hurry — or laying back, soaking up the sun, and smelling the Georgia pine for you?
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: if you don’t know what you want, you’re never going to get there, wherever there is.
After we left Alabama we moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, of all places. My husband always enjoyed vacationing there, so he wanted to live there full-time. I remember telling him, it gets very HOT there in the summer! But he didn’t care, so off we went.
But we didn’t live in the heart of the city. We moved to a community on the side of Sunrise Mountain where we had an amazing view of the Las Vegas Strip, but we were far from its crazy hustle and bustle. Occasionally we would head into town and have our fun — see a show, soak up the party atmosphere, play some cards and a few slot machines — but we always headed back to our peaceful oasis.
Our little slice of heaven at home, with family, a pool for floating in the hellish heat, raised bed gardens filled with veggies and herbs, olive trees, and sweet neighbors. Even though we were no longer in the country, we lived as though we were. Because that’s what we wanted.
It’s Never Too Late!
There’s still time to figure it out. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, or how many missteps you’ve made — believe me, I’ve made plenty. You can decide right now. You can determine your path. You have everything you need to make that choice.
But you’ll need to do a few things first…
Turn your phone off — social media will still be there — sit still, be quiet, and rest. Allow your mind to wander. Do this for at least 30 minutes, twice a day over the next four weeks.
The third week, grab a journal and start writing down your thoughts. This isn’t a writing assignment like we had in high school — just write down your thoughts as they come and go. Do this for at least 15 minutes each day.
On the fourth week, continue to write but also read what you wrote during the last week. Notice your thoughts, your emotions, any changes or nuances. Spend these few minutes each day focused on exploring you — not your husband, wife, kids, friends, neighbors, or co-workers.
As you end those four weeks, let me know what you discovered about yourself.
Thank You for being a part of Planting Seeds for Health & Happiness
I’d love to hear your thoughts, please join the discussion on living life in a hurry or laying back and smelling the pine. Just click on the leave a comment button. Let’s keep this conversation going…
If you’d rather not share your thoughts online but would like to engage in the conversation with me, you can do so by emailing me. Just click on the email button below. I will respond to your email.
When your family gathers for dinner tonight, remember the dinner table is a No Phone Zone! Start a conversation about lifestyle, ask everyone to share the life they want to live. Everyone eats, participates, and listens to each other’s stories.
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