By Anuoluwapo Bamiro columnist
Welcome back to “What’s Up with Anuolu.” This week’s column is about taking everything day by day. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we forget to slow down and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds us. Slowing down may seem so counterproductive in a hustle culture, but it’s so important to take the time to relax, sleep, and get some rest. The older I get; I understand that rest is just as important as the work I do every day. Life can get overwhelming. I can begin to feel overworked; my limbs can begin to feel run down. I know we have goals and dreams that we are all pursuing, but how can we enjoy it if we continue to neglect our health?
That’s what I’ve been dealing with these past couple of weeks. Feeling forced to relax and sit down even though I had so many plans, and so many things to get done off my to-do list, I was fortunate to be able to sit and just do nothing besides enjoy the present. I usually am so worried about tomorrow and how I must get ready and prepare. However, just living in the moment and enjoying the present really does put into perspective what is truly important in life. All we really have are these moments. It would be heartbreaking to get to a place in life where I am regretful and resentful for all the things I didn’t do, and all the time I didn’t waste.
So, after taking a couple of weeks to figure out my new normal, and adjust to the present, and stop harping over the future, I see the importance and beauty of rest. I thought it was important to share because rest has become a thing that I feel society has made us believe makes us weak. We are taught that rest is for the rich and those that are successful. When in fact rest is for us all, there is no way to truly be at 100 percent capacity when you are tired, sluggish, and overworked.
In addition, I can get caught up in wanting to see instant results for the work I put in. But I’m learning that the best rewards usually come with time and patience. I’ve been putting in a lot of work behind the scenes and doing a lot of things to build myself and my resume. So, sometimes, I feel like I want to see the results now, but I remember that I’m getting practice and building myself. I now have more and better products to show for it. Failures mean another opportunity to approach or do something better than before. Realizing that a lot of what I want is in changing my mentality and attitude toward the way I feel about them. Because to be honest I am a way better writer now than I ever was, and the exciting part about it is that I can only get better.
So, I wanted to use this week’s column to remind everybody to calm down, take a walk, take a deep breath and know that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. We are only getting better and preparing for those moments that we have always dreamed of. There is no need to overwork ourselves to prove to anyone our worth or why we deserve what we dream. You cannot enjoy life, your success, and your money if you are dead. So slow down and enjoy these moments that remind us to be grateful that we are alive.
