Understanding and embracing slow living has been very rewarding for some time now, and I just keep improving with my approach to this way of life. Its impact on me can't be quantified, and I have gotten to the point in life where I no longer fix a day or schedule a time to prioritize my well-being, it's now a natural part of my daily life because it's a lifestyle that brings me fulfillment.
In this fast-paced world we live in today, there is a strong misconception about the word "slow," especially with "living," and I don't know if it was like that in ancient times. Today, we criticize and condemn things for being slow, whereas there is a positive side to it, but we can't see it just because we are obsessed with rushing, trying to catch up with world's pace.
I remember during my junior school days, there was this girl called Anu. Many people disliked her because she's never quick with anything, and even teachers scold her often, but surprisingly, she's always topping the class, and it baffles me a lot.
I couldn't figure out why until "slow living" became a thing for me. Anu might be naturally slow, but that was her strength. She was quite careful with tasks, always paying attention to details and thinking deeply before responding to anything or making decisions.
Slow living is definitely not a terrible approach to life, it has really helped me tackle anxiety and frequent burnouts I experienced while trying to keep up with the world's pace a few years ago. Many of us believe that taking breaks would make us miss out on so many things happening out there, which is exactly the opposite of what we are experiencing. While keeping up with the world's pace, we actually miss out on many beautiful moments in our lives because it's either we are being chased by something or vice versa.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don't realize until it's too late that they've been involved in an endless race of life.
My approach to slow living isn't much, and like Milly said earlier today in her post, little things can mean a lot.
Spending quality time with my family (wife) is one of my ways of living slowly. I understand clearly the importance of doing that, and it makes me happy seeing them/her happy.
Having our meals together, watching movies, going shopping, and doing several things together helps make the bond stronger, plus these memories are what I can always reflect on in the future. I feel not just fulfilled but blessed for having been able to pause and create beautiful memories with my loved one.
Keeping up with the world's pace most times comes at the detriment of our mental & physical health. I have shared my journey a lot of times, and a few people know how much I have been through due to some health challenges.
Slowing down to cater to my well-being is the biggest investment I can give myself, and it's important for everyone to do the same thing. Lately, I don't pressure myself to start my day with work. Exercising is a daily routine, and I do a few others like gardening, taking herbal tea, and sometimes just immersing myself in nature.
I cultivated the habit of taking a break from my time to help at least one person daily, and like I always said, it doesn't have to be about giving out money. The time spent while trying to help others always feels special to me, and even though there are days when I think that time can be spent on something significant for myself, I still find it more fulfilling to use it for other people.
It can be just giving someone a listening ear, providing physical or emotional support, assisting with chores, giving out things, and many others. It's never a waste of time like many people imagine, and I often feel my soul enriched taking those breaks to support others the little way I can.
Last week, I was going about with some task in my surroundings when I noticed that the kids in the house next to mine always trek some distance to get water. I asked them questions and met their parents, we agreed that they will fetch thrice a week when there is electricity, plus an elderly person must supervise them. They agreed, and I made provision for a tap outside because there wasn't one before.
The kids came to thank me the next day, and I felt blessed. Slow living sometimes doesn't have to be about slowing down our pace; it can also be about being more present, aware, and compassionate towards the people around us.
A lot of these things might look like a delay, but they are not because a time will come when, no matter how hard we try, keeping up with the pace at which the world is moving won't be possible. We will be long gone someday, but the world will still be here, and sadly, the coming generation will continue the race we didn't end.
Slow living doesn't prevent us from fulfilling our dream like many people think, it only means we are moving at our pace, racking up genuine happiness and beautiful memories as we journey through life.
