Love this so much – these words encapsulate *so* much about how I've been feeling in regards to slow living, too. There is such nuance in everything, especially when it comes to approaching our aspirations and goals in a more mindful and centered way. I've often felt deep guilt for wanting to live slowly and wanting to feel expansive and seen, so it's nice to not be so alone in that <3
So glad this resonated with you, Lindsay! Yes, there is absolutely nuance in everything. Slow living has essentially been a portal for me to live a truer life, and I take the bits that align and leave whatever doesn't.
I have wrestled with the guilt too for desiring both, and it took me weeks to publish this after I wrote it because I was worried people would say, "well then you're not really slow living" or something like that, but it's been so nice to see others have similar sentiments.
Yes and yes! This exactly describes the push and pull, step up and retreat, do and don't that I constantly feel. I want an open life at my own pace and also want to experience comfort. I want to work and I want to play. I don't want to niche myself down into a label that doesn't fit all the aspects of me. Your naming of "expander" is a great way to filter what we see online. I definitely fall into the trap of "I should be doing this and that" to be who I say want to be, and yet, I don't want to. At all. Thank you so much for writing this! You've given me a lot to think about.
Ahh yes, I experience all these same contrasting feelings! I realize that a lot of times we try to put ourselves into these boxes or labels when really we are such multi-faceted beings, and we're allowed to be all these things at once! I'm so glad this spoke to you!!
I love all of this! I feel like you are reading my mind Hunter. I have an aversion with labels, not wanting to label myself as anything as I prefer the opportunity to change and to embrace a life of variety. We shouldn't be afraid to want contrasting elements in our life. That's exactly how I want to live anyway. I want the big and the small, the slow and the fast - as long as all is done with the correct intention 💜✨
Yesss! I feel the same way. We are so multi-faceted and all those pieces should be celebrated, not just one specific label or title because it "sounds good" to the world. And definitely having good intention behind it makes the magic work!
So good. I've always found the paradox to be where the juice is and the things that are unique to a person. When reading your post I was thinking about a magnificent elephant, as big as it gets and moving slowly and intentionally.
Oh, Shan, this is so beautiful! Wow, I feel so seen by your elephant analogy. You're exactly right! Elephants are the perfect representation. Thank you!!
Oh here for the slow living with a touch of magic!! I love the reminder that we get to CHOOSE our own way... to experiment... to play... to craft our own lives into what we want from picking what works and leaving what doesn’t. I really relate to your BIG visions and desires while also being intentional and making the journey sacred. Beautifully woven words as always. Xxx
Beautiful reflections! Love this sentence especially: "When we step into that autonomy and realize that we don’t just follow the rules, we make the rules, then we can move into that sacred space called our life."
You’ve hit the nail on the head for me here (on more than one occasion!) and have made sense of why I’ve been struggling with the concept of slow living. I’ve been trying to force myself into a mould of what I think it ‘should’ look like but not what I actually want it to look like, for me.
I can’t move slowly, I just can’t. I need to be busy and on the go. But I also know when to rest and ease up a bit. I can be and have both.
For me, slow living comes down to the intentionality, like you so beautifully mentioned, but also simplicity. I have such a desire to declutter and simplify my life at the moment.
Slow living is the umbrella term but the word ‘slow’ doesn’t really resonate with me. So I guess I’m more in the ‘simple living’ movement and that’s ok too 🤍
Cool article Hunter! For every 'prescriptive' lifestyle idea I have encountered and experimented with, I always find a certain nuance that emerges simply because of my unique way of thinking and being. If you aren't changing the rules then you probably aren't adopting these ideas in an authentic way. I especially relate to your gripes about sustainability. Thanks again.
Beautifully said - take what you need has always been a bit of a mantra for me and I think it works for inspiration like this and you explained it so well!
So much truth in this. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't able to truly embrace slow living until I retired, but have fully embraced it since. I do a lot, but at my pace.
"In Praise of Slowness" by Carl Honore was the book that got my wife and I first thinking of living "slowly"...it was a real paradigm shift for us. From working for Google to eventually living in a converted goat barn on an organic farm, we've been through the whole spectrum! The sort of tagline to our Substack is..."living the perfect, little life…full of BIG adventure." I really like "The Magically Mundane" - it encapsulates how we live everyday. My son and I just got back from a 2 hour walk in the forest, and now chicken soup is simmering on the stove - as he reads and I write this comment - just pure bliss. What more could anyone need? Thanks for your post.
Love this so much Hunter! And totally agree! I for example even struggle a little with the label of “slow living” sometimes and am totally with you when it comes to sustainability topics, I feel more drawn to “intentional” life... all these overlap and mean similar things and I love how we can pick a word that resonates most and make the whole thing our own, create our life the way it makes sense for us.
I have a draft that’s been sitting in my drafts for weeks talking about my tech job AND intentional life, my full schedule AND the spaces I carve out consciously to slow down the speed. Especially in the 9-5 world people say it’s impossible to live stress free etc and I claim the opposite is true...
I love your gentle writing as always and wish you a wonderful holiday season 🫶
Yes! to making your own rules, ditching the labels and wanting what you want. We’re often taught not to want too much aren’t we, but why the heck not? We need to role model this for our kids too, right?
I definitely harbour dreams of greatness, whilst living slowly in the country… and as much as I love the quiet, I’m weirdly drawn to the hustle and bustle of busy spaces and businesses; turns out this part I’ve held back (thinking I’m ‘quiet’) is part of how I’m designed - so yes, let’s lean in and champion ALL of who we are, unlabelled and free!
Love this. I want both. Slow living and the nice kitchen. I want to feel secure financially, enjoy luxury, but also live a simple life. I think FREEDOM is exactly the word for slow living.
Love this so much – these words encapsulate *so* much about how I've been feeling in regards to slow living, too. There is such nuance in everything, especially when it comes to approaching our aspirations and goals in a more mindful and centered way. I've often felt deep guilt for wanting to live slowly and wanting to feel expansive and seen, so it's nice to not be so alone in that <3
So glad this resonated with you, Lindsay! Yes, there is absolutely nuance in everything. Slow living has essentially been a portal for me to live a truer life, and I take the bits that align and leave whatever doesn't.
I have wrestled with the guilt too for desiring both, and it took me weeks to publish this after I wrote it because I was worried people would say, "well then you're not really slow living" or something like that, but it's been so nice to see others have similar sentiments.
Yes and yes! This exactly describes the push and pull, step up and retreat, do and don't that I constantly feel. I want an open life at my own pace and also want to experience comfort. I want to work and I want to play. I don't want to niche myself down into a label that doesn't fit all the aspects of me. Your naming of "expander" is a great way to filter what we see online. I definitely fall into the trap of "I should be doing this and that" to be who I say want to be, and yet, I don't want to. At all. Thank you so much for writing this! You've given me a lot to think about.
Ahh yes, I experience all these same contrasting feelings! I realize that a lot of times we try to put ourselves into these boxes or labels when really we are such multi-faceted beings, and we're allowed to be all these things at once! I'm so glad this spoke to you!!
Couldn’t agree more!
Thanks so much, Eliza!
I love all of this! I feel like you are reading my mind Hunter. I have an aversion with labels, not wanting to label myself as anything as I prefer the opportunity to change and to embrace a life of variety. We shouldn't be afraid to want contrasting elements in our life. That's exactly how I want to live anyway. I want the big and the small, the slow and the fast - as long as all is done with the correct intention 💜✨
Yesss! I feel the same way. We are so multi-faceted and all those pieces should be celebrated, not just one specific label or title because it "sounds good" to the world. And definitely having good intention behind it makes the magic work!
So good. I've always found the paradox to be where the juice is and the things that are unique to a person. When reading your post I was thinking about a magnificent elephant, as big as it gets and moving slowly and intentionally.
Oh, Shan, this is so beautiful! Wow, I feel so seen by your elephant analogy. You're exactly right! Elephants are the perfect representation. Thank you!!
Oh here for the slow living with a touch of magic!! I love the reminder that we get to CHOOSE our own way... to experiment... to play... to craft our own lives into what we want from picking what works and leaving what doesn’t. I really relate to your BIG visions and desires while also being intentional and making the journey sacred. Beautifully woven words as always. Xxx
Oh thank you Lauren, for always being such a cheerleader for me! Absolutely, it's about the and AND not the and BUT.
Beautiful reflections! Love this sentence especially: "When we step into that autonomy and realize that we don’t just follow the rules, we make the rules, then we can move into that sacred space called our life."
Mmm, so glad this resonated with you. Thank you for being here!
❤️
Ok yes to all of this 👏🏻
You’ve hit the nail on the head for me here (on more than one occasion!) and have made sense of why I’ve been struggling with the concept of slow living. I’ve been trying to force myself into a mould of what I think it ‘should’ look like but not what I actually want it to look like, for me.
I can’t move slowly, I just can’t. I need to be busy and on the go. But I also know when to rest and ease up a bit. I can be and have both.
For me, slow living comes down to the intentionality, like you so beautifully mentioned, but also simplicity. I have such a desire to declutter and simplify my life at the moment.
Slow living is the umbrella term but the word ‘slow’ doesn’t really resonate with me. So I guess I’m more in the ‘simple living’ movement and that’s ok too 🤍
Cool article Hunter! For every 'prescriptive' lifestyle idea I have encountered and experimented with, I always find a certain nuance that emerges simply because of my unique way of thinking and being. If you aren't changing the rules then you probably aren't adopting these ideas in an authentic way. I especially relate to your gripes about sustainability. Thanks again.
Beautifully said - take what you need has always been a bit of a mantra for me and I think it works for inspiration like this and you explained it so well!
So much truth in this. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't able to truly embrace slow living until I retired, but have fully embraced it since. I do a lot, but at my pace.
"In Praise of Slowness" by Carl Honore was the book that got my wife and I first thinking of living "slowly"...it was a real paradigm shift for us. From working for Google to eventually living in a converted goat barn on an organic farm, we've been through the whole spectrum! The sort of tagline to our Substack is..."living the perfect, little life…full of BIG adventure." I really like "The Magically Mundane" - it encapsulates how we live everyday. My son and I just got back from a 2 hour walk in the forest, and now chicken soup is simmering on the stove - as he reads and I write this comment - just pure bliss. What more could anyone need? Thanks for your post.
Love this so much Hunter! And totally agree! I for example even struggle a little with the label of “slow living” sometimes and am totally with you when it comes to sustainability topics, I feel more drawn to “intentional” life... all these overlap and mean similar things and I love how we can pick a word that resonates most and make the whole thing our own, create our life the way it makes sense for us.
I have a draft that’s been sitting in my drafts for weeks talking about my tech job AND intentional life, my full schedule AND the spaces I carve out consciously to slow down the speed. Especially in the 9-5 world people say it’s impossible to live stress free etc and I claim the opposite is true...
I love your gentle writing as always and wish you a wonderful holiday season 🫶
Yes! to making your own rules, ditching the labels and wanting what you want. We’re often taught not to want too much aren’t we, but why the heck not? We need to role model this for our kids too, right?
I definitely harbour dreams of greatness, whilst living slowly in the country… and as much as I love the quiet, I’m weirdly drawn to the hustle and bustle of busy spaces and businesses; turns out this part I’ve held back (thinking I’m ‘quiet’) is part of how I’m designed - so yes, let’s lean in and champion ALL of who we are, unlabelled and free!
Love this. I want both. Slow living and the nice kitchen. I want to feel secure financially, enjoy luxury, but also live a simple life. I think FREEDOM is exactly the word for slow living.