Take Your Time

By Eknath Easwaran
Hyperion, $16.95

ISBN 0786862211

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Review by Ann Shayne

A small book caught my attention a couple of years ago, its title jumping from a stack of books on a harried day.

"Take Your Time," it said. I had to laugh. Sure, I thought. Easy for you to say.

I tucked the book in my bag on the off chance that I might ever have time to consider the possibility of taking my time. Late that night I found myself absorbed in the gentle words of the book's author, Eknath Easwaran.

Originally published by the Nilgiri Press in California, "Take Your Time: Finding Balance in a Hurried World" has just been reissued by big ol' Hyperion Books, Disney's book division. Funny, but Disney seems like the last place anybody would be taking their time.

Then again, it's just the sort of book that might help those executives along as they ponder the creation of the next Anastasia Happy Meal action figure. I have found myself returning to the simple steps Easwaran suggests for slowing down, and think we could all benefit from them -- even the folks at Disney. His first step, "Slowing Down," is a good place to start:

• To guard against hurrying through the day, start the day early.
• Devote half an hour every morning for meditation, or for inspirational reading and reflection. Do not let anything intrude on this most precious period of your day.
• Take time for a good breakfast.
• Allow yourself time to get to every engagement a little early.
• Simplify your life so that you do not try to fill your time with more than you can do. Start by listing your activities. Then prune the list, striking out anything that is not truly necessary and anything that is not beneficial.
• Cultivate patience.
• Don't rush those you live and work with. Give them time; you will be giving yourself time as well.
• Cultivate personal relationships in all your activities. It will help to reverse the depersonalization of our world.
• Reduce the time you spend watching television.

©1997, ProMotion, inc.

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