A Letter to Myself to Slow Down

Welcome to Career Advise, the newsletter providing career advice, how-tos, and life musings through an optimistic and intriguing lens.

Each week, you will receive two newsletters written by the Oppstartr Team. Mondays — Our career-focused newsletter. Fridays — Out of Office where we discuss life and other thought-provoking ideas.

Happy Friday to you all, and welcome to Out of Office, the weekend edition of Career Advise.

Have you ever found yourself caught in the constant motion of pursuing your ultimate career and life goals? I know I have. Lately, I have observed a pattern in my life — a relentless pursuit that often causes me to overlook the beauty inherent in the simple moments along the way.

Life seems to have transformed into a series of checkboxes, each representing a step toward some perceived finish line. Yet, amidst this journey, I have realized that I have been missing the intricate details — the moments that hold the true meaning of life.

In a world dominated by smartphones and apps promising instant gratification, the art of slowing down has become a forgotten craft. We have become conditioned to expect everything at the drop of a hat, risking the loss of the very essence of what it means to be alive.

So, here’s an invitation — not just to myself but to all of you — a heartfelt plea to slow down. This is not a call to stagnation or complacency; rather, it is a reminder to savor the richness of each day and to acknowledge that life unfolds not only in grand gestures but also in the small, seemingly insignificant moments.

How many sunsets have I missed because my mind was preoccupied with the next item on my to-do list? How many genuine conversations have I let slip by due to the "urgency" of reaching some distant goal? Unfortunately, I suspect the answers are far too many.

Here's to engaging in more conversations with strangers, enjoying the breeze on a hot summer day, and sitting down to sip coffee just as the sun rises. Here's to the detours that lead to unexpected discoveries and the simple pleasures of being present in each passing moment.

As I write these words to myself, I hope they serve as a reminder to savor the journey and as an acknowledgment that the most beautiful moments often unfold when we take the time to slow down and truly see.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this. Reply to this email, and let's start a conversation about the beauty we often overlook on our paths to our destinations.

Thank you for reading Career Advise.

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