Slow living is about knowing and loving the things we value, and designing our lives to spend the most possible time enjoying them. It’s about having intentionality ... in our activities, about embracing the fact that you’re not doing it all – it’s about doing less, but better.” — Kayte Ferris Today, here at the Meet Jeanine blog, is dedicated to cozy, slow living and falling in love with slow mornings. This post is the first of several blog posts I'll be sharing today, and the next couple of days will continue the theme. I wrote this series & the free eBook that compiles and expands on it because I believe that if you're a mom, a slower lifestyle and pace can help you take back your time, be more present with your kids, carve out more time for yourself and feel good about the way you and your family spend your days. In this post, let's take a look at the slow living lifestyle and the philosophy behind it... Our pace is determined not by the length of our to-do list but by whether we pause (and for how long) in between the items on those lists. The Slow Living Lifestyle & Philosophy It has taken me years to fully integrate the concept of slow living, especially as it applies to me and my life. On the surface, the pursuit of a simplified, less cluttered life seems easy to understand, but the implications - not to mention personalizing it for yourself - are not as simple. Here's the way I understand the slow living movement and philosophy today... Slow living is about separating who you are from your to-do list. It's about letting go of the idea that more is better, and that faster is the way to go. It's about doing one thing at a time and devoting yourself to it, being fully present and engaged. Which means that with slow living, you let go of multi-tasking whenever possible. And you let yourself take the time to enjoy simple pleasures, to savor moments you love. For example, the hygge lifestyle is a slow lifestyle: savoring a cup of tea, lingering over time with family and friends, snuggling under a blanket and letting go of the worry about time. Slow living is about the pause between each moment of engagement and the next one. It devalues the rush from one moment to the next. There's no hurry. The slow movement can be applied, specifically, to things like food and clothes. Why hurry through fast food when you can take the time to make really good food? Go out of your way a little, taking the time to procure what you know is better. And live a little in your clothes before rushing to buy the next new thing. Savor what you already have. Consider this a brief introduction to slow living, as a lifestyle and philosophy. Each new post, today, may help you sink into it a little more. But what do you think, so far? Does it appeal to you? Is it calling your name? 3 Slow Living Books I Recommend There are many more books I could recommend. But these are a great place to start... Busyness is a byproduct of our culture. It is the sacrifice we make for our religion of more... But more is a never-ending immeasurable... More is always, by definition, just ahead at the horizon. That’s why we never stop chasing it. More is never enough. - Erin Loechner, Chasing Slow One thing I love about this book is her stories. I would forget that she was making a point or teaching me something, but I'd get the message anyway while she entertained me. This was my favorite of the three. A cluttered garage is little more than a graveyard of insecurities, a cemetery of might have been or could have been or should have been. Or should never have been. - Brooke McAlary, Destination Simple Quick note about this book: I love some of her quotes, and I include two here, but I was a wee bit disappointed with the rituals. I love to get interesting ritual ideas (light a candle, say a prayer, do the meditation), but these were more like daily activities. But I do love that she talks about the connection between the way we live and our identity. She talks about the willingness to shift the way we see ourselves and makes it clear that letting go in that way is a sort of first step to living more slowly. We are drowning under to-do lists. We have been taught the longer the list, the more important we are. The more ticks we have on our list means the more efficient/smart/productive/successful we are. - Brooke McAlary This book is an account of my winding, messy journey from exhaustion to peace, from isolation to connection, from hustling and multitasking to sacred presence. And this book is an invitation, too—a hand reaching out across the pages, inviting you into that same journey…My prayer is that this book will be a thousand invitations, springing up from every page, calling you to ... recraft a life marked by meaning, connection, and unconditional love. — Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect The Slow Living Series I invite you to read the other slow living posts to explore how you might adapt it to your own lifestyle. See what coziness it might have for you. Here are the other posts in the series ... Slow Living for Women of Faith How Do You Want Your Mornings to Feel? Tea and Meditation: Tea Ritual Ideas The Slow Morning Solution for Night Owls To download all of the slow living posts in a free printable pdf & bonus getting started checklist, plus bonus information about slow living for families, go to The Slow Living eBook. See you next time! Love, Jeanine
22 Comments
4/15/2019 10:17:06 am
This was just what I needed this morning, Jeanine. Thank you. I kept thinking, I'll try the slow way in June, when life calms down. But I know that June will have its own stuff. As I work on this blog challenge and work on getting my house ready for company to arrive tomorrow night, I know slowing down will be difficult, but I will try to keep on track without my mind getting frenetic.
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4/15/2019 11:23:52 am
Oh, I'm so glad it was what you needed, Bonnie! Life can really throw a lot our way at one time. On days like that, I try to create slow moments or pauses in between. And then, slow days afterward, once the storm has passed. :)
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4/15/2019 11:25:07 am
You're so welcome, Karen! I'm not always good at it, either. I give in to pressure sometimes, when there's a deadline, even though it is sometimes self-imposed. Working on it, though.
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Danjay Reyes
4/15/2019 10:46:02 am
Nice article
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4/15/2019 11:26:42 am
I see what you mean, Debi! Narrowing your focus to what matters right now can help a lot. I try to do that, too.
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4/15/2019 11:37:05 am
My daughter has told me to read the book, Chasing Slow. I keep forgetting about it, and this is probably the third time the title has popped up in my view. I take it I need to read this book. I've read Present Over Perfect and love everything Shauna writes. I need to embrace the slow life since all my kids have moved out of state with all 8 of our grandchildren, I seem to avoid slow because I find sadness lurking in those corners. But I also know my Savior asks me to be still and know that He is God. I need slow. I need cozy. I need the comfort only He can give and it's found in those slow mornings.
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4/15/2019 05:39:58 pm
Yes, I get tempted to avoid it, too, Debi! I don't find to slow down and then, find sadness or boredom or restlessness or frustration. Sometimes, that's what happens, too. But as you said, thank goodness, that's also what makes it possible to notice & connect with God's presence!!
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4/15/2019 11:47:05 am
So, I bet you are not surprised that this is not a lifestyle to which I could become accustomed...
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Slow living wasn’t ever a way of life for me....and then I retired. Amazingly- my life became more active than it was before. I found that I was running to clubs, meetings, helping neighbors, doing some part-time at-home work, volunteering, etc - I was busy all the time. It was difficult to even make a doctor’s appointment because my calendar was always full. But - I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not going to re-commit to things I had been doing and just take it easy. This morning, as I’m typing this I’m on my patio with a cup of coffee, and enjoying this beautiful weather we’re having in AZ. It’s quiet and peaceful. I an see the Red Mountains, and I’m 100% happy while living it slow. Well, for now anyway. LOL
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4/15/2019 05:42:09 pm
Sounds wonderful! Maybe you'll find it really suits you.
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4/15/2019 05:51:47 pm
I love slow living, too but it's easier said than done. Even when I feel I'm not doing much physically, my head is always busy. I guess I have to learn to slow down my thoughts. :-)
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4/15/2019 05:54:38 pm
Yes, sometimes that happens to me, too, Lily! I'll try to read but be unable to really settle down. Sometimes, taking a moment or two for deep breathing helps.
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4/16/2019 08:06:25 pm
That's wonderful, Nadya! And I think they would make a great start. Thanks!!
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4/15/2019 08:52:10 pm
I look forward to your blogs and they never disappoint and the quote from Kayte Ferris is right on! I am going tomorrow to buy the book "Chasing Slow." I am retired and I thought I was living slow, but some stress levels show that I need more training in it. You Keep on writing -- I always look for your posts.
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4/16/2019 08:08:05 pm
WOW! Thank you so much!! That is high praise coming from a great writer like you. Glad you're getting the book, too. She grabs you into her story right from the beginning.
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4/16/2019 08:15:23 pm
Thanks so much, Martha!! Well, that's just wonderful, that you have so much energy and enjoy keeping it moving. As long as it's working for you, I say more power to you. But, I don't think of slowing down as the opposite of being active. more as the opposite of being frenzied. Rushed.
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