{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":""Take Me Out to the Slow Game," Episode #178, May 8, 2026","description":"This podcast is a companion to our Wellness Compass column. What follows is the text of the column we emailed out this week on this same topic: \u201cBaseball is too slow for me\u2014I prefer sports like basketball with its constant action and scoring\u201d is a comment we overheard at our grandson\u2019s Little League game this week. Because it wasn\u2019t said directly to us, we didn\u2019t have the opportunity to respond with all the ways we love the slow pace of baseball. We\u2019d like to share those with you now, and because this is a wellness column, we can\u2019t resist the opportunity to reflect on what the slowness of baseball has to teach us.   First on the list would have probably been that we love the game just because it is slow. Even with the advent of the pitch clock and a few other changes to speed up the game for our impatient culture, the game still has a refreshing pace that allows you to savor each pitch, each at bat, and each play in the field. The pace allows you to pause long enough to wonder, \u201cShould they bring the infield in?\u201d or \u201cIs this a good time to hit and run?\u201d or \u201cShould the outfield be playing this batter to pull?\u201d or \u201cThe pitcher has thrown three consecutive four-seam fastballs\u2014so is it time to throw a circle change?\u201d   The opinion that baseball is too slow has been voiced more frequently over the last few decades. Perhaps a different way to frame that perception is that life by contrast has increasingly sped up and maybe even become too fast.  Baseball is a celebration of slowness. It resonates with the slow food movement and the increased interest in slow travel. Within medicine there is even a new movement called slow medicine, which is pushing back on the limitations of the five to seven minute office visits.   Speaking of medicine, Scott tried something very counter-cultural (and counter-intuitive for him) this week. He had a doctor\u2019s appointment and his doctor was running late so he had a half hour to himself in the waiting room. Because he was thinking about this concept of patience and slowing down, he resisted getting his phone out and checking the news or his email or \u2026. last night\u2019s box scores.  He sat for a full thirty minutes without reaching for his phone. He took some deep breaths and practiced some mindfulness meditation. When he returned home he was embarrassed to report that this was not easy for him to do. Like the woman we overheard at our grandson\u2019s baseball game, he, too, sometimes craves action and stimulation.   Life has its own series of waiting rooms. Waiting for clarity on a difficult issue. Waiting for a loved one to find their way. Waiting for healing. Waiting for peace. We long for progress and some kind of action that will bring quick resolution. When we can\u2019t just scroll ahead we are invited to enter into the wisdom of slowness and the practice of patience.  Three thousand years ago the author of the book of Ecclesiastes gave us this hopeful wisdom, \u201cThere is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.\u201d  May we find the grace to trust the season we are in and to patiently embrace the waiting and unfolding, even when we wish things would move a little faster.   And may we watch a few games of baseball to remind us of the benefits of slowing down.  ","author_name":"The Wellness Compass Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/podcast.wellnesscompass.org\/podcasts\/the-wellness-compass-podcast","html":"