What does a "slow life" mean to you?

[catherine]

As I mentioned a while back, I am engaged in a creative activity--writing a book about living slower, saner, and more simply. I started out pretty well. I got the prologue and the first "mile marker" (Awareness) written and they were well-received on Substack, but I am SO STUCK on the second "mile marker"--Slowing Down.

What does slowing down mean to you? I'm going to leave that completely open ended. I may follow up but right now I just want to know what comes to mind. That being said, consider the question relative to the simple life..

ETA: When I say "it was well-received on Substack" I mean the couple of dozen of family and friends who signed up to support me liked it.

[iris lilies]

Slowing down: here, for me, I look at life activities in the same way as many of us look at purchasing consumer goods: sign up only for those activities that truly bring something important to your life.

The things they bring might be sheer fun, or might be work giving a sense of accomplishment, or might be a learning event, or community building through socialization, or etc. But whatever the activity it should be one you value.

Just like we learn to spend money only on the things we really value, we should spend our time only on the activities we really value.

And here it’s important to look for the value in quietude and peacefulness which often is in direct conflict with running around in Busyness.
That is, of course, if you value quietude. Some people like hustle and bustle and running around madly.

[rosarugosa]

I think of having the time to take pleasure in the small activities of life: housekeeping, brushing the cats, savoring a cup of coffee or tea, watching the birds, deadheading flowers, pulling weeds. I read a quote recently, which of course I cannot find now, that really resonated with me. To paraphrase, if you are only really happy when you are on vacation or at a party or some special occasion, then you will not be living a very happy life, because most of life is not lived at these "peaks."

[ToomuchStuff]

Right now, it would mean not having to work seven days a week (July 4th was my first day off since the idiots accident, Thanksgiving is the next one), while dealing with cancer and trying to move, taking care of two houses.

[pinkytoe]

Appreciating and sometimes delighting in ordinary moments which often includes just staying home.

[early morning]

What rr said. I think of it as having/taking the time to be mindful, and to be able to enjoy the experience of whatever it is you're doing (or in some cases, NOT doing). Sort of the difference between slapping a pre-fab dinner on the table (I love those, btw!) or taking/having the time to make a nice, nourishing dinner and be able to enjoy the process. Being less tied to specific times and schedules constantly. Having the ability to be distracted without screwing something up -read the paper, follow the butterfly, pick the daisies! Play with the cat, watch the cicada pull out of its shell. Not always, perhaps, but at least SOME of the time!

[early morning]

Toomuchstuff, I hope your situation becomes more tenable soon. Sending good vibes your way (not that vibes can help, but it's all I've got at the moment!)

[happystuff]

I don't know if how I would define a "slow life", as I'm not sure I want one. What I want is the time and ability to do the things I want to do when I want to do them without having to worry about a "work" schedule. I don't really mind having things/events scheduled - I just want them to be things I WANT to do, not necessarily things I HAVE to do.

I feel like I'm babbling on, but I guess right now I mean no more work. I want an active/eventful retirement - from work! LOL. I'm pretty sure that once I do stop working, I'll be redefining "slow life" or whatever.

[rosarugosa]

Right now, it would mean not having to work seven days a week (July 4th was my first day off since the idiots accident, Thanksgiving is the next one), while dealing with cancer and trying to move, taking care of two houses.

That sounds just awful, even without illness in the mix. I hope the situation improves and you are able to get some relief. Do you enjoy the work that you do?

[Tybee]

I think I feel like happystuff on this question. A slow life has some negative connotations due to times in my life where life has been very slow due to illness, so for me, it's a loaded term.