As Slowly As You Need

On this Monday of the new month, I am sending out a message to you: take things as slowly as you need.(Of course, that message is for me as much as it is for you.)My iPhone is dying, the battery registering 75% and then a blank screen, the whole unit shutting off until plugged back into a power source. It's ridiculously annoying. The memo is out for a new one. Until then, I can't use my phone for much, which is to say, I have to find something else to do with the time I normally burn scrolling.Last night, as I sat down to work on a project, the electric went out for our whole neighborhood. So much for productivity. H pulled out our headlamps and lit candles. We sat in the dark, him playing acoustic guitar, me reading. It ended up being so relaxing - the darkness, the inability to do much, spending time together, the barrage of input just shut off.Everywhere I turn, there is the same message - slow down, there is no need to rush here.So... what if Mondays were about ease? What if productivity was measured in laughter, in helping someone, in how much of the day we get to spend doing our favorite things (problem solving instead of public speaking, hosting meetings instead of data entry - whatever)?What if each morning we decided to allow more joy?What if everyone is doing just the very best they can and we lowered the bar some, just a little, to create some space for others to catch up, or for ourselves to breathe?I keep hearing the messages, thinking these ideas over. Maybe you need to hear them too...?