I consider myself lucky to have a very sensitive and "communicative" body. Every time I lose track in life, my body is there to ring a bell and remind me to take a step back, evaluate things and slow down.
It seems that I am not one of these persons that take their lessons at once and learn quickly, as I had to get a reminder several times in my life. Still learning. While this can be a great tool, it can also be very annoying as well :)
I can spend hours looking at a flower. For me this is an important victory in a world that wants us to work and consume nonstop.
I used to work in an ad agency, which was crazy, not at all for me (I didn't even have a TV to see our ads and still don't have), and it wasn't only that I worked crazy hours but also that I believed and knew everything was meaningless. I had terrible headaches back then, and when I quit my life became more bright. Not immediately, it took a while. I was doubting my decision, but deep inside I knew I had to take that risk in order to find myself again and live a quality life. That was my definition back then. Now, quality life is a synonym to slow living.
Having free time after a long time and a more relaxed body and mind, the headaches (that were not just headaches but a brain blood vessels issue) became better.
Then I realized that I had never leaved close to nature. I had spent all my life in urban, human-built environment. And my intuition was telling me that my next step was to get close to the earth, work with the soil and take lessons from the plants. Have you ever trusted your intuition even if everyone around you finds your plan crazy? I did. Well, we did. I had a good companion, my partner.
Being able to spend my time in a way that is meaningful to me, no matter what the others think. I am sure there are many people that would find useless sitting next to a flower just looking at it. Well, this was my break from farm work.
Living close to nature doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with slow living. Slow living comes from your conscious decision to simplify your life and give priority to what matters. Becoming part of nature's rhythm and observing her way in creating within harmony and balance, opening your heart and forgetting all about your mind is saying, can take you in a beautiful place. A simple, true, intuitive life. Leaving the city life and many comforts behind, really made me focus to what matters most for me, what I need to have in my life and don't want to lose. All the rest were left behind. I decluttered my life, my goals. The hardest thing till now is to declutter my mind, to stay connected to the moment.
This is the world I choose to be part of. Not for everyone. Each one of us has their own way. This seems to be my way.
It really isn't that easy. It is a new mindset I had to work on, but I was ready for it. And I had a good generous teacher. The first lesson nature gave me was patience. Following her wise rhythm and becoming aware to how little I could change. Learning to surrender. Learning to give all the time needed for things to happen, and then slowly also learned to take all the time I needed. Again not at once, I've been through ups and downs, but I really don't know if it could have been in a different way. I have learnt to be grateful even for these moments.
Slow living comes hand in hand with let go of expectations. How to free yourself and live life your way. Ok, not a guru here, but doing my best :)
And if this way of living can help you move forward and achieve goals? Definitely. First of all, it will help you achieve YOUR goals and no one else's expectations. Having prioritized what you really want, you can focus on it and give all the care and love to do what you want. In a kind meaningful way, this can only lead to a beautiful result, for you and others.
This is my work (again) this period, to make sure I live my life my way. It is easy to get off the track, this is part of the game though!
This is my reply to the second question of @millycf1976 and The Minimalist community asking this week:
click here for more info
Every Saturday a new set of topics and good reasons to think deeper maybe on some things :)
