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After having driven at the quick allowable speed on a freeway or autoroute, when we exit onto a local road or begin driving through a town, the slower speed can feel unhelpful. However, being the wise and astute drivers that we are, we know its necessary. 

Still, there are sometimes that posted speeds on streets, especially in a young town like Bend, Oregon, where the speed limit exceeds what is safe. Case in point, a frequently traveled curving neighborhood street that often has shade with sunlight filtered through the trees has a posted speed of 35 mph, but after witnessing many accidents over the past ten years due to the poor visibility even in the daytime hours, I have chosen to reduce my speed to 30 mph even if the cars behind me become frustrated momentarily. Rest assured, I have yet to have an accident and all of us arrive safely where we are heading. With time and sadly often negative driving incidents, the city has come to reduce the speed on some of the roads throughout the city, but it takes time.

My point in sharing this spotlights the necessity for us each to assess whether the pace of life we are traveling supports our well-being. And if it doesn't, even if other family, friends, co-workers or the culture live differently, we nourish ourselves by choosing to trust what we know to be true for our life journey and making the necessary change.

We need not experience an accident or an unwanted event to learn a valuable lesson that will enhance the quality of our life. We can be the student of life, apply our awareness skills, self-knowledge learned and all the other skills of how to live a life of contentment to prevent unwanted occurrences. We will never know what we have avoided, but we will have gained peace of mind and confidence as things unfold constructively in our favor without having to force, and by simply showing up, being fully present and engaging with loving-kindness, and to the point we're talking about today, integrity (honoring what we need). 

Today as we conclude one month and look to step into a new one, reflect on the pace you have been traveling throughout September. How does it feel? Do you breathe easily, sleep deeply and feel at ease when most days conclude? If so, celebrate. Do something to let your brain know that this is a way of life that works (explore episode #389 to learn more about the necessity for celebration and gratitude in our daily life); if you are exhausted just trying to recall the last time you were able to catch your breath, consider being the person who choosing to go at a slower pace. Your health, creativity, relationships (those who care about your well-being) will thank you, and eventually, you will thank yourself for prioritizing living now and savoring the life you have, instead of racing into the next moment. 

Now, to the newsletter, where you will find a 7-part series that began on September 1st and concluded just yesterday, autumnal wardrobe ideas, oodles of finds, new releases and more in the This & That posts, a British as well as a Francophile Petit Plaisir, as well as much more. 

Bonne journée !

—Shannon