Today, whilst baking bread, packing swimming bags for tonight's practice, ignoring my washer's nagging beeping sound, saying "I'm done!, overseeing both kids deep in their math tests, and checking my e-mail, I happened upon an article that really hit home for me. Maybe the article touched me because our family, like the article's author, lived overseas from 2004-2006 and I remember how much slower life seemed there and how I struggled to readjust to life in the States, despite growing up here. For those not familiar with the slowness movement, it is not about doing little, but rather choosing deliberately to do what is important to you each day, and to have the courage to regularly ask yourself, "Is this working for me/my family?" If not, living slowly reminds us it's okay to change what isn't working. I do find slowness and comfort in the tasks I do, baking bread, gardening, being outside with nature all around, spending time with my family, but still slowing down is often easier said than done for me, I have such a strong inner "Martha" in my spirit. For me, learning to knit while living overseas those few years was such a blessing. Knitting is one task that seems to force me to slow down, my projects can be completed only one stitch at at time, row by row. Nature reminds us that slow living is the intention for all of us, each little seed grows slowly a day at at time, each bud a little until it's becomes a flower and then the cycle begins again.
One-Two Twenty-Seven's Spring 2010 Manifesto:
Dig in the dirt, smell the flowers, notice the little things each day,
Watch my children, they are the best teachers on slowing down and enjoying the moment,
Savor the simple time spent gathered around the table - it is a precious gift,
Remember to let the "list" go sometimes - it's okay,
Live each day deliberately, enjoying each stitch one at a time.
The article that inspired my post today can be found here:
How has living slowly affected your life? What activities help you live slowly?
BTW, beautiful picture! Is that recent? We don't have any color like that around here yet.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I'm always in a rush even when I bake, craft, or whatever. But because I have an inner bee buzzing inside me that makes me have a lot of energy and doesn't allow me to enjoy the task at hand. I really should consider what you've written and apply it to my own life.
ReplyDeleteJen, I took the picture last May in our front yard. We have 2 large Rhododendron's that bloom like that each year in mid-May. We're still waiting for Color here too!
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