"The Wisdom of Donkeys: Finding Tranquility in a Chaotic Age"

Here's a meditation for Labor Day from the new book by Andy Merrifield, titled "The Wisdom of Donkeys."

Merrifield mentions the observation by Milan Kundera, who says in his novel Slowness that speed, the demon of speed, is often associated with forgetting, with avoidance, and slowness with memory, with confronting.

We move slowly when we want to listen to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. We move more slowly when we want to confront ourselves.

If only we could slow down!

The rush of contemporary life overwhelms our ability to observe, to hear, to step back and wonder, and to meditate."

Merrifield took this wisdom to heart and stepped away from a frantic, overwhelming life that seemed successful by every measure. He journeyed to France and there borrowed a friend's donkey by the name of Gribouille to walk at a slower pace and to reflect on the deeper dimensions of life and fulfillment. At a slower pace, some things become clearer.

Happy Labor Day! Take a rest!