What does a "slow life" mean to you?

[catherine]

Yes, I think that ToomuchStuff and happystuff both point out why I am struggling so hard with this concept yet I believe it's an important one.

Slowing down can indeed prompt negative thoughts if a) it is impossible to do because of the burden of responsibilities. I can tell someone like TMS or even myself back when I was managing a household with 4 kids, and working 60 hours a week and keeping my own house, etc. to slow down, and the feeling will be, what choice to I have but to stay with this grind?

And then on the other end of the spectrum is the perception of loss by slowing down. Old people slow down but that's because of declining faculties. That's not the slowing down I would aspire to, either.

I think I am imagining the appropriate use of slowing down to be what rosa, iris, pinkytoe and early morning alluded to: Choosing intentionally to slow down to notice things and appreciate the ordinary. And even from a work perspective, I am thinking of the benefit of structuring the workday for what Cal Newport calls "Slow Productivity"--by cutting out the extraneous noise in our lives to create space around ourselves where slowness has room to grow and become fertile ground for both mindfulness and productivity

But I love the variety of responses, because that is exactly the response I kind of expected, but y'all validated it. Here's one my current draft paragraphs:

Why is slowing down a revolutionary act?

Test yourself: How do you feel when you think about the prospect of slowing down?
Resistant: “Yeah, right. I have too many responsibilities”
Wistful: “If I only could!”
Confused: “But wouldn’t I be wasting my time?”
Disapproving: “Not for me. I’m not lazy. I have big plans for my life!”
Pressured: “Carpe diem! I have to pack in as much as I can!”
Overwhelmed: “That would be great if I could figure out how to do it!”
Proud: “That’s not my style--I outwork all of my colleagues—that’s how I got where I am!”

OR

Eager: “Yes—that’s for me. Tell me more!”

Thank you for the feedback! Feel free to continue the conversation. This is a big help.

[happystuff]

I really think that the responses - even your current draft paragraphs, catherine - are VERY age/stage of life dependent. If you asked me just 10 years ago what "slowing down" meant to me, I truly believe it would be a different answer than I post above. I also think there is a touch of economics involved in the defining of/and actually achieving a "slow life". For example, I think my "slowing down" at my economic level is/would be different than iris lilies'... or at least the ability to achieve...?

Again, rambling.

[Rogar]

I couldn't connect very well in describing slow living, but I did think about the trend or books about slow cooking, where you have control of the ingredients and and the mindfulness of not having to short cut how they are assembled or cooked. And maybe a better outcome in the end.

My memory of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair" is vague but as I remember it, there was one motorcycle fan who learned how to fix and maintain his bike and would take the time to take care of it and understood all of it's workings. And one of his contemporaries had no interest in anything but just riding and would take his cycle to the shop and pay people to maintain it. That's what I remember anyway. One of those would be what I call slow living.

My best take for now.

[Tybee]

I loved that book! I remember everyone reading it when I was in college. It was my dad's favorite.

[catherine]

I really think that the responses - even your current draft paragraphs, catherine - are VERY age/stage of life dependent. If you asked me just 10 years ago what "slowing down" meant to me, I truly believe it would be a different answer than I post above. I also think there is a touch of economics involved in the defining of/and actually achieving a "slow life". For example, I think my "slowing down" at my economic level is/would be different than iris lilies'... or at least the ability to achieve...?

Again, rambling.

You're not rambling! . Yes, that's the issue.. but isn't there some universal core of wisdom regarding the need to slow down from time to time that transcends age or economic situation? That's the insight I'm looking for.

Regarding Pirsig's book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"--that's one of my favorites, too!! And I think it gets very close to that "thing" about slow that I'm looking for. It shouldn't matter if you are a CEO or a retireee--there is a benefit to immersing yourself in one thing and rejecting the low-value distractions we are all surrounded with.

[Tybee]

It almost sounds like you are using "slowing down" to mean focusing on the main thing and reducing distractions?

[catherine]

It almost sounds like you are using "slowing down" to mean focusing on the main thing and reducing distractions?

That's definitely part of it. It's more of an attitude, though, a mind-shift. That's why I want to make it a cornerstone of achieving a different sort of life outside of the mainstream American culture, where everything is push-push-push..

I read a really interesting article about a study that showed that back around the time that Veblen wrote "The Theory of the Leisure Class" the thought was that because of labor-saving devices of the Industrial Age, the "rich" would have time for leisure, and this leisure time would be the new status symbol of the upper crust. Ironically, today, it doesn't matter how much money you have---today's status symbol is busy-ness--bragging about how much work you have. Because now, the status symbol is how much the workplace/world at large values your contributions.

So slowing down entails ascrificing that "virtue", that status symbol for a more internal aspiration.

Tying together all these thoughts has been very elusive, but it's about making a slow, intentional life a way to say "I'm rejecting the mainstream culture's values".. and the way to do it is by re-engineering your work life, your family life, and the way you contribute to society.

[happystuff]

That's definitely part of it. It's more of an attitude, though, a mind-shift. That's why I want to make it a cornerstone of achieving a different sort of life outside of the mainstream American culture, where everything is push-push-push..

I read a really interesting article about a study that showed that back around the time that Veblen wrote "The Theory of the Leisure Class" the thought was that because of labor-saving devices of the Industrial Age, the "rich" would have time for leisure, and this leisure time would be the new status symbol of the upper crust. Ironically, today, it doesn't matter how much money you have---today's status symbol is busy-ness--bragging about how much work you have. Because now, the status symbol is how much the workplace/world at large values your contributions.

So slowing down entails ascrificing that "virtue", that status symbol for a more internal aspiration.

Tying together all these thoughts has been very elusive, but it's about making a slow, intentional life a way to say "I'm rejecting the mainstream culture's values".. and the way to do it is by re-engineering your work life, your family life, and the way you contribute to society.

I appreciate the additional post here, as it is letting me adjust my thinking on the topic. That said - it sounds like you are looking for "something" that actually each individual will have to decide/choose for themselves. For example, something that *I* personally find satisfaction/value/etc regardless of how others view it or determine its value. And I think the trick is developing/having the strength to forego what society declares and grasp onto "your something".

Also, I think in our society of "instant everything", many people don't want to spend the time trying to find what makes them happy/slow down. All too often I see close friends and even some family look for it in the material objects and I, personally, don't believe it can be found there. In that aspect, I do agree that economics wouldn't necessarily play a part - or at least shouldn't.

Love this topic and it is really getting me to think about things, especially with regards to how I would like my "life" to be when I retire. Thanks!

[KayLR]

What RR said. I would add to be mindful of the "shoulds" of life.

I should be doing that rather than this (thing I'm enjoying) right now.
I should say "yes" to that request
I should (read, clean, socialize, fill-in-the-blank) more than I do.

You get the drift.

[ApatheticNoMore]

The reality is my life is slower since covid times (reevaluation of priorities but also made possible by partial WFH). I still don't get to doing all the things that should be priority even though I know I have very good reasons to prioritize them. I just don't. And I think often about optimizing time to try to fit such things in. So I'm not sure trying desperately to fit a few more important things in is really slowing down. I am making simpler recipes.

And lately I just ask the purpose of everything, ok this is part of decluttering I won't lie, and I'm actually NOT a hoarder not do I buy a lot, just messy. So what is the purpose of this or that room, of this or that item? But what is the purpose of even activities? Going to the gym? It's not to be model thin, but it is to maintain some muscle.