Slow City

LEAVING THE NOISE BEHIND

Slow living is a concept that's really catching on. Eventually I'm going to leave the big city and go live somewhere quiet and more green. It's the inevitable outcome of the trajectory I'm currently on.

I used to love the noise of the city, believe it nor not, but not anymore. I remember really dreaming about living in a flat somewhere near central London, East London preferably, where I could just go downstairs and be in the cacophony, people-watching in a cafe or something.

I actually did realise that dream almost exactly. It was great at first, but the problem with the city noise is that it doesn't stop at night when I need it to.

Another major problem is the litter. I'm starting to struggle mentally with how filthy London is. It's really hard to be at mental peace if you're surrounded by garbage. I spend a lot of time picking up trash in my immediate neighbourhood, only to find more trash nonchalantly thrown around by passers by and residents alike.

I was approached last summer by someone during one of my cleanup sessions. He asked me if I was also going to clean his side of the block. I would have been upset, if not for the look of embarrassment on his face when he realised I was his neighbour.

That's another thing - we don't talk to each other anymore in London. This person had lived near me for years and we had never said a word to each other until that day. We're both too busy running around and not taking some time to be present in our immediate environment.

Slow livers talk to each other, partly because they do have the time to do so. They've cut down on the reason to run around being (falsely) over-productive. They intentionally enjoy the little time they have on this planet in a present way.

Of course, not everyone can leave the city. Some people love it, like I used to love it, but also some people can't leave even if they want to. Work, family, mortgage, e.t.c, commitments keep them tied to the city. This is why some slow livers have figured out how to slow down while still living in the big hamster wheel.

You can see them in many of our city parks tucked away in some corner reading a book. You can spot them fishing in many of our ponds and canals. They get off one or two stops before their tube station and walk home along the river instead. They are all over the city and now that I'm conscious of their existence, I see them all the time.

Peace & Love,

Adé