How slow to go?

As we engage in an everyday routine, jump to our TO – DO list, put more on the schedule, set objectives to do things quicker not to missout anything, we get hectic and may lose contact to the tasks at hand,  run by the details without enjoying what we do.  Is  this  familiar?   

What is more, we measure ourselves only on how much we have done or achieved and concentrate  less on what and how. We want to do everything very well, which we are used to  managing, then take up more until we can still manage, but then suddenly  we feel too much pressure and perhaps   things are actually getting too much to handle. 

Parallel to the acceleration of technology and output development in  the economy our mind set has changed to value speed and perfection.

Take an old James Bond movie with e.g. Sean Connery!   Dr. No from 1958  e.g. is certainly slow compared to say Skyfall.  The audience did enjoy it however in the 1950s, I am sure.            

What has this speed acceleration brought us and the world?  Better service?

We have so many "speedy" around us  - speedy boarding, speed dialing, speed check on the internet,  fast food, fast learning, instant coffee  -  we catch ourselves each moment hurrying, and we expect everything to happen at once and fast . 

Changing our mindset to a slower pace gives us the time to think and maybe act on  balancing  quality and quantity.  We may  then  allow ourselves  to be more natural and authentic.

In the recent past,  the  growing  World Slow Movement has been addressing these questions from  various perspectives. The movement has emerged to be a counterweight  to valuing fast above all, calling attention to slow down and connect to ourselves, to others, our environment, to notice the details, the beauty, the nature,  the present moment....

    

It is exciting to explore the different aspects of the movement and how  it is evolving.

Slowing down does not mean to be slow all the time. Just jump out of fast now and again. Pull the "parachute out" string and slowly land on a quiet field of peace and calmness. However it is done, it does not matter. Meditate, sit in a Café, read a book in a park and discuss it with someone, climb a tree and look into the distance, watch the full Moon or the stars, play cards with friends, look for treasure in the forest with the kids. ..( www.geocaching.com), daydream  or do anything  else  that  is relaxing.         

   

An  interpretation of  “slow” is  a mindset to aspire for quality more than quantity, peace of mind, a balance of mind, heart  and body.  

Instead of asking :“what have I achieved today?”, how about asking  " how slow was I today?”   

So how slow where you today?