Pause: Putting the Brakes on a Runaway Life

Karen F. Danielson, Ph.D., is a research consultant at Laurentian
University who specializes in leisure, textiles, family life, and Japan.

According to Gibson, the most profound choice we can make is deciding
how we use our time. In this book, she offers practical advice about why
we need to pause and how to do it.

Gibson begins with a chapter about inner life, which might be found in
prayer, time alone, or meditation while walking a labyrinth. The
importance of gratitude and kindness are next. She then suggests how
music and harmony, retreats, or studying one’s past connections can
improve quality of life. Silence, family, and slow food are among her
priorities. She explains why it is important to accept mental
challenges, take naps, and sleep well, and describes the benefits of
loving relationships, walking, working in the garden, vacations, small
indulgences, and spas. Finally, she writes about the home, the
importance of being organized, the gratitude one can experience in
cleaning and caring for treasured objects, and the benefits of creating
a sanctuary where one might include a personal altar.

There are so many ideas in this book it would be hard for anyone to
deny that a pause is possible. Gibson gives us a rationale for each kind
of pause as well as some tips to ensure that we succeed. For example,
she advises that a garden can teach us patience, since we cannot rush
nature, but if we plan to garden in containers we need to make sure
there are drain holes in the bottom.

One could read this book from cover to cover for a cheerful and
motivating summary of the little things that could make life more
comfortable and meaningful. Anyone seeking to reduce stress, achieve
better balance in daily life, or slow down the pace of their activities
is likely to find this book pleasant and useful.