Slow Down...

Whenever I have symptoms for a fever, whether the thermometer reads 102 or 98.6, I am reminded of one important thing that I want to incorporate into my post-fever life.

While CityMD Urgent Care told me I’m negative for the flu and that my body temperature is normal, I know I’m sick, so I’m calling it the flu.

I think I caught the flu in the Key West Airport during a 3 hour delay this past Saturday. It’s funny my biggest concern about that flight was whether my stomach would properly digest the Chili’s (To-Go) Fajita Chicken and Steak Combo (no cheese, no sour cream), but despite a better than expected stomach, my body couldn’t fight off the 27 different coughs I came across in that jam-packed terminal.

And now, on NYE, I’m paying the price.

Butter

For much of my early life, I was conditioned to hate butter, and I think many of you were too. Growing up I thought Saturated Fat was bad and unhealthy, while alternatives like Pam Spray and Canola oil were “heart-healthy” and solve that problem.

Turns out Pam and Canola Oil are not heart healthy and are actually comprised of solvent-extracted oils from rather dubious sources. Remember, the 0 calorie thing is BS since it’s pure fat coming out of the bottle. It’s a round-down function but the reality is it shouldn’t be legal to show 0 calories if what’s inside the bottle is pure calories.

OBVIOUSLY EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IS THE BEST FAT.

I digress… Back to Butter

Dietary opinions aside… butter is a component of my life that I get reminded of every single time I’m sick. Why?

I have a mantra that I repeat to myself periodically:

Move Like Butter

It’s the feeling of moving slowly and smoothly through space. It’s very difficult to channel in my everyday chaotic life. Sure a good workout may exhaust me and bring me to the present moment, but there is no better slower-downer of pace of play than the good ole-fashioned fever.

When I get sick, I move at half-speed, in everything.

Some people may look at half-speed as a disadvantage. So many of us (especially entrepreneurs) are told and live and die by speed and urgency with tasks.

But what’s so easy to forget is that direction > speed.

When you slow down, all the sudden, instead of being able to perform 2 tasks in 20 minutes, you can only perform 1 task. What this does is effectively eliminate the task that is less important. I find this subtle change to tune me back into moving in the proper direction.

Don’t let society dictate how fast you should move.

Don’t let your impulses dictate your speed because the reality is your impulses are often controlled by an entity other than yourself.

For example, TikTok is not designed for you to stay on the app for 30 seconds. The business model would never work. It’s designed for you to compulsively swipe and consume so they can keep you on for longer. Rapid subconscious doomscrolling is perfect for them, but for us, is that the optimal way to operate?

This notion is prevalant especially in food, a resource that is truly abundant. At least for me in NYC, I have the choice of eating any cuisine I want in all hours of the day. A consequence of such abundance is lack of appreciation and presence when food comes to me. Even I fall victim to eating at hyperspeed while staring at my computer screen, and next thing I know, the food is off my plate and I am quite full. Happened to me last week while watching the Pluribus finale.

Overeating is often a consequence of abundance and moving too quickly. You’d be surprised with the effects of taking smaller bites and increasing the amount of time between each bite. Try it at your next meal (especially dessert).

Today, I did not fall victim to the speed trap, as I moved at half speed, and ironically despite being sick, I enjoyed my food more today than usual. Go figure.

Eat slower, walk slower, move slower, be more intentional with every step you take.

Remember this doesn’t mean to just waste time. It means instead of walking at “New York City speed” to work, you can leave 5 minutes earlier and enjoy a casual stroll and give yourself time to smell the flowers (come spring).

The benefits of slowing down are tremendous.

I oftentimes forget this until my body cannot physically move at regular speed.

And now, I share this with you.

Take the extra minute. You won’t regret it.

Happy New Year

-Jack