I’ve been in Manchester for the past week. That’s a lot longer than I had originally intended. But I had been going too quick, and pushing myself too hard.

I’m wondering, is that an inevitable part of journeying or do I still have a lot of work to do in appreciating the beauty of going slow?

And there was me thinking I’d built in plenty of pauses and I would be slow and sustainable from the start.

Once we catch ourselves speeding

Well, I suppose I’ve caught myself speeding, and that’s what matters. The important thing once that happens is to slow it down – as much as we can. That is, if we can slow down in our speed obsessed system that does what it can to push and squeeze us into keeping up. We can only do what we can.

I sensed I was stretching myself a little too much early on, but a few commitments here and there kept me pounding on.

But there is space ahead, I’ve let go of a few things that I’d wanted to include in my journey, made some adjustments, and I’m good to go again. Though I’m not in a rush to do so right now, it’s raining outside. Again. Still.

Lost Momentum

The pause in Manchester has been welcome. Connections new and old have brought me happiness. I remember fun times here. I have been having fun whilst here – laughing and joking. Though, there has been sadness too as I’ve refelcted on past times – all those could have beens and the moments when I was a long way from being my best self.

And with each day here, there is a growing reluctance to leave. It’s often been like that on this journey when I’ve been somewhere for longer than a day. It takes an energy to leave – although the destination may be clear, all that comes before that hoped for arrival, if it comes at all, is a scary unknown – the where’s and the what’s, all the who’s and the how’s.

It’s easy to stay put. I am feeling comfortable and stepping out the front door – in this case the front door of another’s home – where it has been safe, feels difficult.

I hear my mind tell me it is maybe better to stay…but I’m needed out there. By the wind and the rain, if nothing else. It might be a little bit uncomfortable sometimes, but it is out there, embracing the unknown and stepping through fears, where I will surely grow.

The next stop

And I know I’ll need another safe spot to process what will come in the next week of walkng further south. A space to cement any growth and check in with where I’m going.

I had intended that next spot to be Coventry, another place I once lived, and where I have memories, and had hopes and dreams, alongside pains and disappointments.

But I don’t need to be there so soon. The art of slowing down is here and now. Instead I’ll stop short of Coventry in Burton-Upon-Trent, a place I’ve never been to before. Better still I will be joined again by my wife for a few days.

New memories to create, new hopes and dreams, in that here and now that is to come…safe and growth-filled. I’m sure we’ll find something of a home there for a short while…

*** Thanks for reading my article. I’m walking from Edinburgh to Croydon and this is one of several blog posts about my progress. For updates and previous posts, see this page.