Chaotic Schedules and Multi-Tasking Lifestyles

These words of wisdom may sound all too familiar to anyone who has survived a life threatening condition or tragic event, or anyone who has simply been blessed enough to know that life is short and can be gone from us in a flash. However, in today's world of chaotic schedules and multi-tasking lifestyles, I believe we must remind ourselves to slow down and enjoy life whenever the inspiring words present themselves to us... even if that means hearing or reading them again and again and again and again!

If you are a subscriber to Living a Better Life (our free monthly newsletter) then you know this is something I discuss quite regularly with our readers. It is also a huge part of why I founded BetterBudgeting.com; to help you manage your money more easily so that you can spend more time enjoying your LIFE!

I would like to share a poem with you that I received as an email forward. The email said the poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York hospital and submitted by a medical doctor, but we discovered (thanks to one of our faithful readers!) that it was written by David L. Weatherford, a child psychologist. After reading David's inspiring poem I thought the best way I could share it with as many people as possible would be to feature it here in my monthly column. If you watched the recent Barbara Walter's interview with Steve Irwin's widow on the 20/20 program (September 2006) this may be especially poignant at this time. But like I mentioned earlier, these insightful thoughts can never be said too often in our world of chaotic schedules and multi-tasking lifestyles.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on 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 your day,

It is like an unopened gift...

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower.

Hear the music.

Before your song is over.

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