Skip to content
The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Schools
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Mill
  • Flora
  • Print Archive
  • About
Menu

Slow Down

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Staff

This is that time of year when school suddenly ends, the university goes into sleep mode and most places of employment, save those in retail and food, start moving in slow motion, as vacations, errands and the occasional bout with the flu reduce the number of hands on deck.

But rather than taking time to reflect in this traditional time of reflection, we’ve become accustomed to revving up.

We travel a lot more, too — all the more reason to slow down a bit and be a little more cautious. It is no comfort to know that the person driving with a cell phone in one hand while weaving through a parking lot filled with pedestrians is filled with holiday spirit, because these days holiday spirit = frazzled.

’Tis the season where we demand too much of ourselves. We want to impress the unimpressable, pick something perfect for the picky, reconcile all long-running family grievances and have the feast on the table right at halftime.

Of course, what can we expect from a season whose chief secular image is an overweight, perpetually jolly person who can warp time and space to deliver presents worldwide and who keeps a running record of the wishes of each and every child? The bar, dear Santa, is a little high.

It’s easy to be cynical this time of year — so much so that most of the professional cynics we know take the rest of the year off about now, lest they lose a bit of their game sparring with the amateurs.

Ah, but if you slow down. If you find a moment to flee from the fray to sit by a fire, stroll slowly through a frosty wood, stare at the ripples on the pond or let yourself linger on the sound of the waves, there you will find some magic in this season. This Earth is at another midpoint, rounding another corner. Winter in full is on us and every creature is aware of that.

We mark this time of year with faith, with family gatherings and with reflection, because it is appropriate to do so. The cycle of life has come to an end and only the beeches still hold their leaves. The greenery we’re so fond of this time of year is an ancient reminder that the cycle will come round again.

For now, though, it’s nature’s quiet time. Here’s hoping you see some, too.

Web Archive

© 2025 The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme