In praise of SLOW
The SLOW movement is not about being lazy, being boring, having no life, being a technophobe, or checking out of the world. It's about making use of speed when it serves you well, but maintaining an inner poise that refuses to let your soul be rushed through life. The Slow movement is not against speed when you need it, it's against speed for the sake of speed.
"Most of us do not wish to replace the cult of speed with the cult of slowness. Speed can be fun, productive and powerful, and we would be poorer without it. What the world needs, and what the Slow movement offers, is a middle path, a recipe for marrying 'la dolce vita' with the dynamism of the information age. The secret is balance: instead of doing everything faster, do everything at the right speed. Sometimes fast. Sometimes slow. Sometimes somewhere in between. Being Slow means never rushing, never striving to save time just for the sake of it. It means remaining calm and unflustered even when circumstances force us to speed up. One way to cultivate inner Slowness is to make time for activities that defy acceleration--meditation, knitting, gardening, yoga, painting, reading, walking …" Carl Honore, In Praise of Slow.
Appreciate that quote Maggi. I must get the book - more than that though I must cultivate that inner slowness - a reality I very much appreciate 2005/early 2006 with SD training. Living more deeply and slowy rippled outwards and touched all that I am and did. I wonder if a fruit of the Spirit in our times is slowness and deepeness...?
Posted by: Paul Fromont | 28/04/2006 at 21:56
I've just bought the book, but not yet read it. So I appreciated the quote. It was quite apposite of comments in my own blog reflecting on a part of my own Lenten Slow experience. So thanks for reproducing it.
My comment at
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2006/04/mustitasking-is-moral-weakness.html
Posted by: andii | 29/04/2006 at 12:15
Seeing the value of slow is something I have been working at, taking time to read stuff properly, to prepare properly and to relax properly.
It is a challenge in our fast paced world, but worth it.
Great book...worth the read.
Posted by: Sally | 29/04/2006 at 12:26
I needed this post ... thanks.
Posted by: Sivin | 30/04/2006 at 10:53
Yes!Finally someone said it!Thanks for this post.
Posted by: Paula | 01/05/2006 at 19:57
Slow...something I've only thought about very quickly. I'm going to order the book.
Posted by: Deb | 10/05/2006 at 00:07