I have a new job and the owner of the clinic is from Taiwan. I worked in one of the busiest emergency rooms in the state of Washington for about seven years. We worked fast and we worked hard in the emergency room. I have always been one to hurry up and get my work done with accuracy. I am the office administrator, learning a new program, learning patient’s names, and how the business is ran. It’s a lot to take in. Although I am a quick learner, I am one of those who needs to be shown once and then wants to do it as I learn by “doing.”

Yesterday I was told by one of the doctor’s friend who was training me, “you should slow down, you do everything too fast.” I looked at him and it hit me hard what he said. Life is short and he was advising me that people would rather see someone who is not too slow or too fast. I knew this, but sometimes we need to be reminded to slow down and enjoy what we are doing. This makes perfect sense to me now. If I put myself in the patient’s eyes, I would want someone to help me that appears they are not either rushed, or they don’t care about what they are doing by lollygagging.

I have taken note, since I was told to slow down, how I approach doing my work. I am trying to not talk too fast, I listen with a smile on my face (although no one can see my smile because of my mask, but I know I am smiling and enjoying my job.)

I admire the person who told me I work too fast, and I let him how much I appreciated his advice. Working and living fast-paced causes unnecessary stress. We had a saying in the emergency room, “we are open 24-hours,” which meant, we will have time to get things done that are not urgent. Working/living too fast only causes stress and nervousness.

When I traveled in Italy with my daughter and her friend, we enjoyed the relaxation in our surrounding environment. Some cultures have it right……enjoy life by enjoying everything we do. You know the saying, “Stop and smell the flowers.” I love learning lessons. I’m so thankful this young twenty-one year old advised me to slow down.

There will be times when we need to rush and do things because what we are doing is urgent, but when you find yourself stressed out because you are always in a hurry, slow down and add some life to your life. Yes, I will catch myself rushing around again as old habits are hard to break, but I will remind myself to slow down and enjoy what I am doing while doing my job and my life at a more even pace.

Enjoy life and those around you.

Trust the Journey and Life Lessons,

Alexis