Deliberate Slowness

The world will continue to spin & time will keep passing us by, yet we can choose how we want to show up in this moment. We may not be able to slow time down, but we can slow down ourselves & find presence within the time we do have.

Deliberate slowness, the act of cultivating intentionality in seemingly mundane or ordinary tasks. The idea of bringing purpose back to each action to invoke connection to the object/task, to the practice or craft, and to yourself and to the [natural] world around you. In other words, this is essentially the act of presence through intentionality. In a fast-paced, overstimulating capitalistic society, this may be one of the most valuable skills to maintain. Deliberate slowness not only focuses on presence and connection, but the practice also encourages competent confidence by growing self-reliant skills and knowledge, something you cannot put a price on nor could be taken away from you.

Why "Go Backwards?"

So, why? Why should we "go backwards" in a sense and practice slow skills when modern technology has been developed to do that for us to save time and labor [**cough cough, AI, cough**]? Well, with that question I answer with another: does such a "convenience culture" truly bring contentment through presence, connection with others, and pride in personal capabilities? In a culture aimed to induce a sense of constant lack and promote a reliance on their systems, do you truly feel happy outsourcing your time and labor to have more free time for... what, exactly? I understand the confusion when you may have never (or have forgotten the feeling) experienced the self-satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.

Perhaps that is the lack you've been missing, the freedom to create and explore without expectations, the child-like sense of wonderment and curiosity for the world. I honestly believe "moving backwards" is the only way to move forwards. That is to say I don't disagree with all technology and modern advancements; I just think we need more of a balance, and if we have no connection with the land or with one another, then we would lose our capacity to care for the wellbeing of all. Presence breeds purpose, purpose invokes connection, connection nurtures compassion, and compassion fosters change for the collective good. By deliberately slowing down, we have the space to recognize what truly is important in life; a gift of remembering to follow our hearts, for the love of it all.

Deliberate Slowness: The How-To Guide

It all starts with a seed: a seed to a garden, a grain to bread, a fiber of thread to a garment, an idea into action. Reconnect with the process to reconnect with yourself, then further presence and connection blossoms from there. I suggest starting small to build confidence and to spark interests. Make a list of things you've always been intrigued by or a list of skills/concepts you would like to learn. Now, divide the list up by complexity levels, then by level of personal interest. Starting at the "easier" tasks, choose your top one to focus on. For me, I always have wanted to grow my own forest of food, a garden for me and for nature to flourish, and like any garden the dream began with a single seed. A bean seed in fact. That single seed taught me so much from basic needs, proper care, to the ultimate lesson: we cannot do this alone and are better for it. Beans need another to lean on for support and in return, they feed the soils [nitrogen] to support those around them and for those yet to arrive (they literally replenish the foundation for a stronger, healthier future for other plants).

Oh, the beauty of reciprocity, the dance of give and take. My skills grew from a single bean, and my garden has expanded each year to include the wants/needs of my family, neighbors, the chickadees and finches, the chipmunks, the bees and butterflies, the chickens and worms. A garden connects many together and I feel so content when I am out there nurturing the center of it all. I have pride in the knowledge and skills I cultivated and yet I am excited to learn more for truly we are never done learning. To be able to grow alongside my garden is a beautiful treasure and such knowledge and skills are mine to keep and share.

Not everyone enjoys gardening, and that's quite alright, there are plenty of ways to slow down, to be present and find contentment. May I suggest sourdough baking? I know the concept has been over hyped for some time, yet it is a rather easy and enjoyable (some might say delicious) hobby once you have a sourdough starter established. As a gluten-free (for inflammatory purposes) individual myself, you may think this is an odd hobby to have, and maybe you're right, but I don't bake for me; I bake for the joy it brings others. I love being able to share possibly more than baking itself, and I honestly geek out over anything nutrition the food culture. Again, the cycle of creation and connection. It may seem a simple thing, a loaf of bread, yet it is also so much more than that; it is the feeling it gives through the act of care from making to sharing. For me, baking bread is a way I show those I care for that I am thinking of them and that I am here for them, and sometimes there isn't much I can do to help, but I can always bake a loaf of bread. And that, dear reader, is something, or perhaps it is everything. Depending on who you ask I suppose. The practice is greater than us yet involves us all and should be given without expectation (i.e., to break bread).

I could go on and on, but I rather you experience yourself the magic of deliberate slowness, so I will provide a list of ideas to get you started and I would love to hear from you, dear reader. How do you cultivate deliberate slowness in your life? How do you connect with the world?

• sourdough baking

• gardening

• wood carving

• knitting, crochet, fiber arts

• painting, sketching, oil pastel, art

• foraging / plant identification

• medicinal / herbal crafts

• survival skills (water purification, fire starting, bushcraft)

• weaving (fiber or basketry)

• cooking

• fermentation / preservation

• building / carpentry

• any sports or physical activity

• language learning

• writing :)