What is a Slow Life?
Living slowly is about intentionality, compassion and empowerment.
In a fast-paced society that is increasing its velocity all the time, we get swept up in the convenience without thinking.
We buy without thinking of how something is manufactured, the environmental causes, worker conditions, or where the packaging will go once we take it home (or even where it will go once we've used it or it breaks).
We click on links without knowing how tech is collecting or using our data.
We are addicted to the fast way of life - we want it now, we'll worry about the repercussions later.
So slow life takes a step back to re-evaluate all aspects of life and the cycles we are in:
life cycles for human workers and animals and the planet,
how things are manufactured and where waste and pollution go,
how to prevent that cycle with your choices,
keeping most of your consumption in your community rather than making choices that affect the globe.
You take your power back from the whirlwind of fast society. Don’t buy, click or consume (food or products) on a whim. Slow down and think first.
Example:
You wake up and before reaching for your phone, you decide to think and meditate on your day while your mind is clear.
You put your clothes on. Before thinking how you need new clothes, you contemplate how it’s made, how were workers treated, where does the company spend its money, how much waste did it take to get to me (shipping/distribution).
Then you go get breakfast and think about what you want to put in your body, is it good for me not just tasting good in the short-term but will it help me be healthy long-term? who farmed it, did they get paid well, what pesticides were or weren't used, where does the company I bought it from put its money, into my community or towards things I don't agree with?
You find you need a new blender. You think on what kind to get, where you want it to be made, which store to go to, how much packaging will I have to throw away once I bring it home, could I fix my old one or get a gently used one instead of buying a new one?
Then you get on your phone and scroll to see what's new. You see photos you want to see and you think about what to post. Do you posting to get likes, or are you posting to update people in your life who you care about?
You may feel lonely, so you turn to a dating app to make a connection with someone new and exciting. You swipe and don't match. Could you use compassion to swipe on more people rather than judge and limit yourself. Or could you go to a coffee shop and meet someone in real life?
You go to work and your boss wants you to do more work in a shorter amount of time but you know if you take breaks you are a better and more efficient worker. You focus in short chunks, take breaks, and don't scroll social media to nurture your anxiety about how much work you have.
You go to a workout class, but you're low on energy today (something you discovered when you meditated this morning), so you go easy on yourself rather than push yourself to get to a certain body ideal you saw on social media. You have compassion towards yourself and your body and know that with your slow, intentional life you are healthy and worthy of love no matter what.
You go home and watch shows that lift you up and inspire you. You call people you love or spend time with people around you. And you fully rest. No more hustling until midnight after everything else is taken care of.
Slow life suggests to live for yourself and future generations, to work towards leaving the Earth a better place by being intentional with all your decisions.
Why be miserable for any moment of life? Why work towards something society tells you to be?
Take a breath and think about your actions. Who they affect and who you are living for?
There is no self-care talk in a slow life. Self-care happens every day, all day.