Making Spain

Life is busy.

So busy, that it is easy to let it pass us by.

So busy, that we forget what is truly important.

So busy, that we focus only on doing, and we forget to be. To know. To learn. To love.

I was talking to a friend who recently spent a few weeks in Spain. The culture is different. In Spain they take time to notice life. To live life.

They sit down to drink their coffee instead of taking it on the go.

They take a nap every day. A small gift to themselves so that they have more to give everyone else later.

Instead of escaping to their isolated home in the evenings or for the weekend, they congregate in town, spending time with friends and family.

They sit down late to eat long dinners over several bottles of wine.

photo by MorBCN (Creative Commons)

Spain does not have to be limited to Spain.

You can make Spain happen for you here.

Try it this weekend.

Stop and listen to your life. Pay attention. Notice.

Live.

Take a nap.

Tell the people that matter to you that you love them.

Sit and listen to music. Think nothing of what you should be doing now or have to do on Monday. Just listen and let the music speak to you.

Give to others in such a way that they could never repay you.

Drink coffee to enjoy it, not just to try to get enough energy to do your next big task.

Do something absolutely crazy with your kids. Surprise them by letting them pick.

Eat dessert first.

Hire a babysitter. Take some friends out to an expensive, trendy restaurant. Pay for dinner. Get so lost in the conversation that you don’t notice that it is midnight and you are the only ones left in the restaurant.

Your heart knows what it wants to do. Start listening to it. Your story will be better for it.

Do you feel so busy that you find it hard to notice life? In what ways do you make Spain?

Share in the comments.