Slow

Ah, slow…..a chance to stop and smell the flowers - but what does it all mean?

So, Carl Honore is the undisputed king of the Slow movement by default - kind of. His book, ”In Praise Of Slow” is a manifesto to the movement, the antithesis of the fast paced, get it done, earn more, do more, consume more, be more movement.

The Slow movement is more about enjoying life, tasting the food, understanding the ingredients and where they come from, appreciating the workmanship that goes into anything we use - food or product.

It’s about slow fashion, how we can make things last longer - if they are made better and made with repair in mind. And there’s the rub, we don't do that, we don't create with longevity in mind - do we?

Built in obsolescence is accepted - which number iPhone are you on now? We accept that the tablet we have that works perfectly is soon to be overshadowed by another and at some point no longer supported or updated - forcing us to move with it to the next new version. But what happens to the old one that worked perfectly - not to mention getting into debt to keep up with the Apples!

Slow appeals as we enter a stage in evolution where our climate is at a breaking point, our oceans are full of plastic and we have nowhere left to put our rubbish/garbage. Our food and seeds are tampered with - natural doesn’t mean what it used to!

We turn to fracking the soil beneath our feet to feed the energy needs we have - rather than address those needs and slow down. We rob Peter to pay Paul to pay for things we don't need, to impress people we don't like - and for what?

Slow offers a solution of sorts - it’s simple aim is to be happy with what you have, make use of it, repair and cherish it. It asks us to enjoy the seasonal, eat what nature provides in a sensible way, and actually taste that food - fast food, as with fast fashion, is anathema.

A slow life is one that feels lived, items you own take on a history, handed down with the stories they evoke - labels are just names printed on things, they don‘t mean a thing (except for some free advertising for a company that doesn’t even know you exist!) But imagine the joy of being able to hand an item, a watch, a pen, books or clothes down through the generation to friends and family? It may all sound a little like “The Waltons” but is that a bad thing? Appreciation isn’t a swear word!

So, on a practical level, what does slow mean?

With food, take some time to make your food, make time! We all seem to be time poor these days and yet can find time to be glued to our phone screens for hours a day! Take some pleasure in looking for recipes, give yourself a repertoire of several easy to make meals. Then, buy fresh ingredients - smell the herbs, feel and connect with your food, take an interest in where it‘s from, buy local and seasonal if possible. And finally, enjoy the process of making that food.

Food is fuel - and you wouldn’t damage your car by filling it up with rubbish, so why do the same to yourself? I find making a meal akin to mindfulness - you can switch off from that work to do list, the credit card bill that needs paying or the screaming neighbours and just concentrate on chopping and sautéing, boiling and roasting and then plate up and enjoy.

Take time to taste each mouthful, everyone enjoys a little mastication! And don't forget the accompanying drink, whether wine or coffee, water or tea - take time a make it the best you can and savour it.

The same for every other aspect of your life - enjoy buying clothes, safe in the knowledge it’s an item you will wear again and again and it will match and uplift your existing wardrobe rather than a bag of fast fashion, poorly made, that won’t last a season!

And replicate this for other aspects of your life too - find a role that allows you to live your values, for a company that matches them! Use transport that fits in with your ethos for life - if it is a car, use it wisely and enjoy!

So, in short, free yourself - take a step back, pledge to slow down and enjoy things more. Stop speeding through life - stop and smell the focaccia once in a while…..