Slow Dance

The following poem was recently sent to me by one of our friends in Dallas after reading my earlier postings.
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Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Man of Action

KVACHIT PRITHVISHAYAH
KVACHIDAPI CHA PARYANKSHAINAHAH
KVACHIT CHHAKAAHAARAH
KVACHIDAPI CHA SHALYODANARUCHIH
KVACHIT KANTHAADHAARI
KVACHIDAPI CHA DIVYAAMBARADHARO
MANASVI KAARYAARTHI
NA GANAYATI DUKHAM NA CHA SUKHAM

On the way to achieving his goal, if the need arises a man of action is not deterred to sleep on bare floor as against a cozy bed, to eat raw vegetables and herbs as against delicious food, and to wear rags as against silken clothes. While pursuing the objective, he is neither deterred by the hardships nor distracted by the comforts.

From Bhartrihari Subhashita, this is one of my favorite slokas.