Growing up in a small town, the pace of life was slow. I spent hours staring at clouds, scratching the scabs on my knees, running through sheets drying on the line and poking at asps clinging to the trees and shrubs in our backyard.

Fast forward a few (okay, many) years. My life as an adult has been, well, fast. Almost every moment has been occupied by a task, a to-do list or some other thing I have scheduled myself to accomplish.

It was only when I went to Tassajara for a week-long retreat in 2010, that I realized I had forgotten what it felt like to really slow down. Walking back to my cabin after a late evening shower, I looked up and was surprised to see the night sky filled completely with stars. Brighter than when I was a kid even.

When was the last time you looked up at the sky? When was the last time you spent an afternoon or a whole day, unplanned?