Slow

I wrote this piece this summer after finishing my first treeplanting season and on the way to visit my family. Over the past few months I had been finding it difficult to keep up with everyone else and struggled to keep my self esteem at a functioning level. I felt like people were trying to change me, with all the best intentions, to make me function in society in a normal and fast paced manner. But this only made me feel more and more self-conscious of my many inabilities to keep up with work, conversations, and technology. I wrote this poem to try to explain to others who I am and why I am okay with it and to try to make myself okay with it. Hope you find it fun, relevant and entertaining.
Slow to learn, slow to react
Slow to know what's going on
This is me, in a society
that never stops being on the run

I'm slow to drive, oh so slow
I take forever to get a joke
I'd rather take my time to respond
Than reply to something I don't all know

Slow to speak up in a crowd
Because they can be oh so loud
and when I finally say something
It has nothing to do with what they're talking about

Don't take me to a movie theatre
For in a panic I will stare
As explosions in 3D overwhelm my senses
And I try to maintain some composure

I want to be part of this world
I want to do all that you can
I swear that I am a strong girl
But I can't change how slow I am

But if you find yourself in pain
If someone you really need
I'll be there for you again and again
And you'll be amazed at my impressive speed

I'm quick to notice if you're sad
If you find yourself in grief
So I humbly ask, please don't be mad
Would you try to slow down with me

I love to stand still as a statue
And stare awestruck at the view
Take me to the mountains and the ocean
There I will show you what I can do

No busy roads and technology
Where you're free to say whatever you please
Wouldn't you like to try
Someday, to slow down with me

I stand in the center of a rushing place
Like a dead-head in the river I keep up my face
As the water runs past me it cannot unplant me
For I have a solid base

So run until you lose your senses
Can't feel the current pushing you along
I will stand in the middle with clean clear lenses
and watch all that's going on

Yes, I like to be slow, I'm ashamed of it though
Because I'm left behind or I'm doing things wrong
But I want you to know, I'm still happy I'm slow
For I can catch in the wind its mysterious song

What is society that I should adhere?
What about patience is there to fear?
For in silence and peace the voice of God
I can clearly hear

So slow I will continue to be
And try oh so hard not to compare all your speeds
And reach out in love every time I see need
Will you try, someday just try
To slow down with me.