Slow It Down
Last night and this morning, I found myself in an internal struggle—an argument with myself.
Yesterday, with sunshine finally breaking through the clouds, I packed it all in. Rick Steves says the Trotternish Peninsula is a must in good weather, so I drove it. Eight-plus hours on the road, plus two epic hikes—around five miles total—to the Old Man of Storr (my favorite experience so far) and the Quiraing. I crammed in as much as I could to take advantage of the weather gift I’d been given.
Grateful? Absolutely. Exhausted? Completely.
The Pressure to Do It All
Here’s the thing: I have this compulsion—or maybe it’s guilt. I’m in Scotland, taking this risk, chasing this unconventional path. So I tell myself: I have to make the most of it. Pack. It. All. In.
But do I? Isn’t this journey about savoring? About slowing down after so many years of rushing—autopilot days, endless deadlines, always racing toward the finish line?
The Corporate Voice in My Head
This morning I woke up tired, yet my brain went straight to a to-do list: I must see the Fairy Pools. But again—who says? My therapist taught me to notice the words I use with myself: should, have to, must, need to. Those were the corporate world’s words. They dictated how I lived, always focused on performance, output, productivity.
But I’m not there anymore. This is my life now. I get to decide how to spend my time.
Old Man of Storr — Isle of Skye, Scotland
Choosing to Slow Down
So I asked myself: What do I really want today?
The truth: I was tired. Behind on photo editing and posting, on personal tasks, on simply resting. My body wanted a nap more than another must-see. So I slowed down.
No Fairy Pools. Instead, an easy, meandering (non-leaping) hike near my hotel, followed by time exploring Portree—the day’s true goal.
And you know what? It was enough.
The Lesson
Slow down. Savor. Be present.
After 20+ years of rushing, it’s hard to shake that programming. But this time is mine. I get to choose how to spend it. And when I do, the journey feels lighter, fuller, more alive.
Because if you don’t slow down to savor the moment, time races by—and you risk missing the beauty right in front of you.