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I’ve been running away from writing about what I really want to write about here, which is slowness. Partly, I find that I am not really able to explain what I mean by that when people ask about it. So I’ve been putting it off, and feeling awkward about it, and getting annoyed that I’m not writing about what I want to write about, and, well, I’m over it. I sat down today and thought about what it is I really mean by slowness and here’s the definition I decided I’m going with.

Slowness: the experience of allowing yourself not to be in a rush.

In practicing slowness, we can:

• do our normal things more slowly, with more purpose and awareness
• do inherently slow things that are not normal for us and might make us feel a little weird but, hey, we’re experimenting so it’s cool
• do the slow things we really love to do, but that we don’t do because we think we need to be busy all the time doing big, serious, grown-up type things, or because we feel a little weird or judged when people see us doing it

all while being more open and willing to experience life more richly as a result.

That last one there is my own personal challenge – hence three weeks of not writing a post because I wanted to talk more specifically about slowness, but thought you might all think it’s just a little weird, and that I am just a little weird, and, well, that would be the end of that. You might still think it, but I can’t not write about it any more, so I’m going to just roll with it.

Slow = Excitement!

To get you excited about the idea of slowness, and hopefully deter you from the idea that slow=boring, here’s a sneak preview list of some things I will be writing about in the coming posts:

• Color in a coloring book. Think it’s for kids? It’s not. If you aren’t into Disney Princesses or Power Rangers, don’t worry. There are great coloring books out there for adults!
• Spend an evening making something. Anything. Go to the pound shop/dollar store with £5/$5 and buy anything that looks interesting. Bring it home, let your imagination take you where it will and see what your creation turns into.
• Take a different path to work. Get off one stop earlier or one stop later and see a little bit of the city you never get into.
• Take the same path to work but make a point of noticing something you never have before.
• Order something different from the menu at that place where you always get the same thing.
• Make someone a present for their un-birthday or un-Christmas.
• Give a stranger a compliment, or maybe even just a smile.

There are so many small ways we can slow down, even for just a minute or two, and see the world in a different way. I don’t know about you, but I find slowness terribly exciting!

I’m really looking forward to hearing about what small/medium/big things you do to slow yourself down and appreciate life more. What habits do you have that scatter slow moments in your day? What habits are you trying to break to live life more slowly? Please share in the comments! I love hearing what you are up to.

Postcard of the Day

If you’ve read any previous posts, you’ll know that postcards are one of my favorite slow things. They rock for many reasons. Each week I send a postcard to a reader (strangers get priority), and post a photo of where I wrote the card. This week, I wrote the card in honor of my new membership in the Cloud Appreciation Society. I’m pretty excited to be a part of the gang (we’re kind of a big deal). I’ll tell you all about what the Society is and how you can be a part of it next time.

See you then!

Don’t let the cemetery setting turn you off. They are great places to go for walks. I love that they are so quiet and peaceful. I walk in the one near my house regularly, and it’s one of my favorite spots in London. Plus, there’s nothing like a good dose of reality to remind us that life is short and we’re here to make the most of it.

Want a postcard? Send me your details here and I will send you one!

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