Slow yourself down
I have spent the last 30 days untethered. My device screen time decreased by 76%, and my TikTok watching reduced by 90%. I haven't binged watched any TV shows, and I've spent virtually no time on my socials. I have been disconnected for the first time in many years; it feels odd yet freeing. I am surprised that as I have unbusied myself, my free time was not sucked up with more digital entertainment; rather, it's decreased significantly.
There has been no calendar to consult, and more often than not, I haven't known where my cell phone is. My morning alarm has not been set, and yet I have not been sleeping late. I've read some books, snuggled my dogs, and taken my girls shopping. I've also been working on renovating an RV, but that's a story for another day.
I have wanted to write for the Sacred Cubicle but haven't known what I wanted to say. What do I write about? Surprisingly, my mind has been mostly blank. I often ask my husband what he is thinking about, and he says nothing, but for me, my mind is always running a million miles a minute. I need to pay that bill, I need to schedule a doctor's appointment, I need to plan our summer vacation, what are we getting the girls for Christmas, what is the status of that project, and how am I going to solve this capacity problem? Should we go out to dinner, or should I make something? My mind doesn't usually shut off, but it has over the last 30 days. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to surrender our anxieties to God; I confess I don't think I usually do that. I think I hold onto my anxiety and circumstances and allow them to consume my thoughts rather than handing them over and, in doing so, freeing my mind. Giving them up does not mean we abandon all thoughts and concerns about them. We still need to act responsibly and take care of what is in our charge, but it does mean that we don't need to allow these worries to overtake us. I have handed over my fears this last month, and I can't begin to tell you how it has impacted my state of mind.
I am currently sitting in a coffee shop called Wishing Well Coffee & Tea in Hanalel on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Their brand tagline says: slow yourself down. My mind is still blank as I sit here, trying to write for the first time in a month. I find this article taking a long time to write because I sit and stare off into the distance as I write. Because I have slowed down, I observe things I wouldn't usually notice. The cool breeze on my face through the open and non-screened window, the chickens and roosters walking around on the property, the colorful surfboards stacked outside, the palm trees swaying in the wind, children playing, people eating their gorgeous Acai bowls, and the rain showers that are coming through every few minutes.
My daughter Brooke and I stumbled in here this morning, and I immediately recognized this place as a Sacred Cubicle. I knew I would return and write my first article in a month or so, sitting at Wishing Well Coffee and Tea. So after a family trip to the beach, I ended up here, with my laptop on a 10-inch live edge bar, an open window bringing in the ocean air and the Aloha Spirit with it. The place has been hustling and bustling all day. The food is on point, and the coffees I ordered have been perfect. What sets this place apart from other coffee shops besides the food and coffee? How did I know when I walked in this morning that this was a Sacred Cubicle?
It started with Easton. She was upfront and took all the orders. Genuine kindness and friendliness exuded from her. Warmth in the establishment was evident, and it all started with her smiling face and welcoming words.
One could assume that visiting a company with a tagline of "slow yourself down" could mean you be waiting awhile for your order. That is not the case here; while you are reminded to slow yourself down, they have not slowed down on efficiency. Food and drinks were out expeditiously, giving their customers actual time to slow down and enjoy their food. Their operation is down to a science.
Details in our work make significant differences to our customers. The first detail that got my attention was when Easton handed me my receipt; she also gave me two stickers, one for each of us, that said, "slow yourself down." A few minutes later, our drinks were served in custom mason jars engraved with "Slow Yourself Down." I thought these were cool, but I was very impressed when I learned I could take them home with me. They make it part of your drink order, but If you bring the jar back, you get a dollar off your next beverage. Give the customer something to remember you by that will keep them returning. A small act of goodness goes a long way.
Lastly, there are views of Mount Makana (also known as Bali Hai); I sat down this morning and had a great conversation with my daughter while taking in the breathtaking views of the Garden Isle. Here on Kauai, the green mountains tower next to the blue ocean, and you can see the majesty of God at work in this place.
This afternoon as I write, I have listened as Easton connected with her customers. Asking questions about their time on the island, where they are from, what they do for fun, and what they will do the rest of their day. She approached me to ask what I was working on, she asked follow-up questions, and I noticed she took a personal interest in each interaction she had. Sacred places, sacred cubicles are everywhere. We just don't slow ourselves down enough to see or even create them. I can think of countless times when I didn't slow down to see a sacred space, only to recognize later that I missed the moment.
We have so much power to create those sacred spaces for ourselves and others. When we do so, we make people feel seen and valued.
If you work in a coffee shop or a restaurant, it may be when you carefully prepare the customer's order when you top off the Acai bowl with just the right amount of chopped macadamia nuts.
In your corporate job, it may be when you thoroughly and patiently listen to the request that your most challenging customer outlines.
As a project manager, it may be when you take the time to thoroughly explain the what, the why, and the how to your customer and your teammates.
In your retirement, it may be when you visit someone working on renovating their RV and encourage them.
As a leader, it may be when you create safe spaces for your team.
As a care provider, it may be when you gently provide reassurance for a scared patient or family member.
As a teacher, it may be when you take an extra moment to check in on one of your students, offer them lunch or show that you care about them even more than their grade.
Sacred moments and spaces are all around us; it's up to us to slow ourselves down to recognize them, celebrate them, learn from them, and create them. I will be here on Kauai for a few more days, and I will be starting my days at the Wishing Well, Coffee and Tea. I will slow down, listen to the birds, eat my carefully curated Acai Bowl and drink my cold brew while reflecting, praying, and noticing the sacredness around me.
