Slow living could be viewed from so many angles and perspectives, but never has it really occurred to me to see it in the light of laziness, not even once.
Personally, I choose to see it from a point of “I love myself and I should not put pressure unnecessarily on myself”.
Some years back, in fact, not so long ago, I watched someone I love dearly fall terribly sick suddenly, it was an ailment that could change the trajectory of one’s life permanently.
When that sickness struck, all what he wanted was to be better and back on his feet. My dear, nothing else even mattered at that point, the work, the office, the obligations, nothing! Everyone just wanted him whole again. This is someone that was always very active, he was never wanting to be idle, he would always take every thing he is delegated to do with utmost seriousness, always having speaking engagements back to back and not resting adequately but still showing up all the time because that is just who he is, always filling up every loophole and feeling like without him there, things will definitely go south.
Then came that awful time, his body could not cope, it had been subjected to so much stress and had not really been resting enough to make up for the stress, there were signs that ought to have been taken seriously, and certain things that should not have been neglected, and for crying out loud, this person in particular is not even a child or a bubbling, agile youth.
And so, his body chose to take a break and it was even at the hour of him making a presentation at an event. Guess what dears, someone else replaced him that very instant and rounded off the presentation whilst he was being rushed to the hospital, and the program went on.
I am trying to be as vague as possible regarding this story because this is something very sensitive to me. But my point here is, that situation was a very big eye opener and my life has never remained the same since then. The way I see things so differently now, I love it for me.
I have come across people who are almost always very busy, always showing up tired, stressed, looking tacky or even looking 100% alright but going through a lot on the inside. These particular set of people, I am not envious of one bit! I am not saying that those people choose to be that way or maybe who knows, it might be really beyond them.
But for me though, I aspire to be a very well put together woman, one who will always show up energized and refreshed, and not being the one that everyone feels they can dump one random duty or chore on and she will accept it.
“Oh, Sister Peace who is supposed to do this is not around or maybe something came up, let us push it to Ama even if it is last minute and will inconvenience her, she is capable and will not oppose”. But what if Ama has something planned and that thing you want her to do will alter her plans? Even if Ama’s plan is to just go home and have a good sleep!
Mind you, I am a very diligent person and I put in my best to whatever I am assigned to do and I take my responsibilities very seriously, so do not get it twisted.
But please again, you will always see me prioritize myself, self care. It spams across what I allow in my space, every now and then you will see me declutter my space, get rid of anything old and irrelevant or just pass down anything I do not use anymore.
Also, the kind of people I surround myself with is another thing. I disassociate from anyone that poses to stress me unnecessarily or you see people that are full of negativity or always pessimistic, I always run away from such people.
Dear reader, do you know that if my body tells me it is tired and there is something not so important waiting to be done but can wait, I will listen to my body and rest please. I do not even think twice. This life, it is just one we have you know.
I love myself a lot, I have grown to this point that I do know better what is good and not good for me, what should be and should not be.
In all, everything that is within my control, I make sure I take charge of it and have things go my way.
I am even learning to say “no” more often. I do not want to be that person that pleases others and ends up displeasing herself.
I listen to my own needs too, you would never see me stressing because of expectations from external bodies or for whatsoever validations. Who are you to even mount pressure on me please?
For every struggle I allow myself pass through or whatever I allow overwork me, it is definitely worth it and I am most definitely doing it for my own good and for the people I love that want me to be better.
Slow living is kind of my thing, it does not mean that I am not passionate or a goal getter or maybe you now conclude that I am an unserious person or a lazy girl. No please, because you will be mistaken.
This is just me taking things as it comes, it is me choosing not to rush things just because we live in a fast paced world, it is me keeping things simple and savoring every moment in life, it is me seeing the beauty in every process and stages of life, it is me protecting my energy, my mind and my space, it is the observant side of me towards the tiniest of details, it is me setting firm boundaries, it is me resting when my body asks me to, it is me not trying to be Wonder Woman😒.
Never have I ever tied my worth to how busy I am, but rather how productive I get to be when there is work to be done.
Do you know some people are always busy, but busy doing nothing or even having nothing to show for it?
My people will say, “No evidence!” but there they are… stressed, burned out and not even getting the rest they need😭.
I do not ever want to be that person, so leave me and my slow living pattern, I like it that way, no pressure🥂
Thank you for reading💕💕
