In our fast paced, always-on world, where we we are driven by competition and fear of being left behind, we have little time throughout our busy days to stop, breathe, and just be.
This poem, 'Slow Dance' by David L. Weatherford, is a beautiful reminder for all of us to break free from the rat race and live a simple, yet more meaningful and fulfilling life.
It explores the transient nature of life and the importance of cherishing moments of beauty and joy. The poem uses the metaphor of a "slow dance" to convey the idea that life should be lived at a deliberate pace, allowing individuals to fully experience and appreciate the richness of their surroundings.
It encourages us to see the world through fresh eyes, appreciating the beauty and wonder that can be found in everyday moments. The poem urges individuals to break free from the confines of routine and habit, and instead embrace the world with a sense of curiosity and awe.
Furthermore, "Slow Dance" encourages readers to be thankful for the blessings in their lives, whether big or small, and to cultivate a sense of mindfulness that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the present moment.
Slow Dance
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask: How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, “Hi”?
You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through the day,
It is like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
David L. Weatherford was a child psychologist with published poems in "Chicken Soup for the Soul". He was a publisher, author and writer.