The One Thing I Hate Doing

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I walk a lot in New York City. Almost daily. In both Manhattan and Brooklyn.

And the one thing I see people do almost every day is rush.

People sprinting down subway steps. Commuters running to catch a train at Penn Station. Drivers leaning on their horns in standstill traffic, as if noise alone will make the cars ahead move faster.

And don’t get me started on cars rolling through stop signs.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a full stop unless there was a pedestrian already in the crosswalk.

As the character Brooks says in The Shawshank Redemption after being released from prison after serving time for decades:

I absolutely hate to rush.

And I believe that hate to rush was formed during my time in the U.S. Army.

Anyone who’s ever served knows the saying: “Hurry up and wait.”

It’s the paradox of military life.

You rush to wherever or whatever you have to do next only to wait endlessly once you arrive to actually start.

As a result:

• I hate eating fast

• I hate walking fast

• I hate doing anything that makes me feel rushed

Since then, I’ve done everything I can in my life that allows me to move at my own pace and not rush.

It’s one of the reasons I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning.

To have time.

• Time to enjoy coffee slowly

• Time to prepare for the day without feeling rushed

• Time to commute without rushing to catch a train or a bus

Yet, everywhere I go, I see the modern world insisting on rushing.

It’s as if most people never stop to ask themselves a simple question: “Why am I rushing?”

The Lesson

Slowing down isn’t laziness.

It’s living deliberately.

We live in a culture that glorifies urgency via deadlines, quick results, and instant responses.

But most of the things that matter in life (relationships, gratitude, clarity) don’t happen on a timer.

When you’re always rushing, you mistake motion for progress.

You confuse activity with accomplishment.

The truth is, the pace you choose determines the quality of your life.

Think about it.

How do you actually feel when you’re rushing?

Rushing may help you get somewhere faster, but slowing down helps you understand why you’re going there in the first place.

What’s the Point of All This?

The point is to emphasize that constant urgency isn’t sustainable.

It drains your energy, heightens anxiety, and leaves little room for reflection or joy.

And ironically, when you stop rushing you often find you have more time than you realized.

Slowing down gives your mind space to breathe.

It allows you to be present.

It allows you to notice the details, enjoy a meal, or actually see the city you’re walking through.

Fun Fact: every time I walk leisurely through either Manhattan or Brooklyn, on either a familiar route or a new route, I notice something new.

Every. Single. Time.

The Final Point

The world will always try to rush you.

But you don’t have to match its pace.

Because a slow life isn’t a wasted life.

It’s a life that’s being lived moment by moment.

So next time you feel yourself rushing, ask the question most people avoid:

“Why am I rushing?”

Quotes that caught my attention:

“Every time I've rushed into something, that's usually when I have regrets.” —Hiro Murai

“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.” —Shigeru Miyamoto

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