"I held my breath, hoping Will would slow down, worried he might not. "Lentement et doucement toutes choses s'arrangent," Will said. This has become our mantra for driving challenges and other delicate operations. Slowly and gently, all things arrange themselves. In essence, remember to slow down and take it easy. If you're patient and take time to consider all sorts of possibilities, things will work out. I'd had no need to worry."
"This is especially important for me, because I'm someone who often acts abruptly, without thinking-an early therapist said I was "precipitous." Despite my best intentions, I do things like hit "send" the second I finish typing an important email, before I notice the typos. Or I'll immediately turn onto a street because the GPS voice says "turn right," without taking stock of the whole scene and the fact that the street has the wrong name and the next one is where I should have turned."
A couple in their 80s rely on concise phrases to make sense of life and cope with challenges. A French mantra, Lentement et doucement toutes choses s'arrangent, encourages slowing down and gentleness so problems can resolve. The mantra is applied to driving detours and delicate operations, reducing anxiety and preventing impulsive mistakes. One partner recalls a history of precipitous behavior—sending emails or following GPS instructions without pausing—so the phrase prompts patience, attention, and consideration of alternatives. Aging brings humility and reinforces a generous shared language that eases tensions and guides action.
Read at Psychology Today
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