When was the last time you took an intentional deep breath? Or slowed down to look at the sky and clouds? Really savored every bite of food you ate? If you’re like me, and just learning to practice slow living, perhaps it’s been a while.
I was raised like many others I’m sure, with family and friends around me who focused intently on the future. What were you going to be when you grow up? What classes and extra curricular activities would you take to get into your preferred college. What will your major be and what will be your career? When you find a career, what will you do to work your way up? At what point in your career, at what dollar amount in the bank account, if and when you find a relationship or start a family, will you be happy? It’s good to look back and consider, what you’re chasing and whether the life you lead allows you to savor life’s precious moments. Are you taking the time?
Slow Living and the Pursuit of Happiness
Happiness. Isn’t it what this whole thing is about anyway? This is the single universal quest in each and every one of us no matter our upbringing or background. After our basic survival needs are met this is what we wish for most, though what this looks like is unique to each and every one of us. To me, happiness is being loved and giving love. It is living doing the things that spark joy, and doing service for others. But for so long, I’ve imagined I won’t be happy until I have the job that impresses my family, the title that impresses my friends, the car that makes me look like I have my life together…and the list goes on.
All that time, spent chasing happiness, when all the happiness we need is here waiting for us to slow down enough to notice it. All the milestones we’ve made, and times we fumbled but rose up stronger and wiser. Kind gestures from family, a lover, or even a stranger? Pats on the back from a colleague after a particularly hard day? Even seemingly menial everyday tasks can be a source of endless happiness if we only take the time to relish each sip of tea, the process of preparing food, a hug from your favorite person. These are the true moments to be grateful for, worth slowing down and appreciating. I’d been holding off of being happy while I chased the accomplishments I thought would bring me the greatest joy. Just rereading this sentence is humorous. Why would we hold off on feeling happiness every day when all we had to do was to slow down and savor each moment in gratitude? Learning how to find happiness in the here and now is the true essence of slow living. What can you change in your life to allow you to savor the moments?
Giving a Moment Worth Savoring to Others
This year has been inexplicably cruel to those that have the least, and less so for a privileged person like me who in some ways benefited from a time to slow down and reflect. The least I can do is to take this time to truly be grateful and to work on myself so that I can be of greater service to others.
Some folks don’t have the privilege to slow down, because they are frontline or essential workers risking their lives everyday, because they are without food to feed their families, money to pay bills, or a home to call their own. Here are some ways we can help others:
- Donate money or non-perishable foods to your local food banks.
- Donate to local organizations that help the needy where you live.
- Reach out to friends and family and see if you can help in any way. Perhaps they just need someone to talk to, someone to watch the kids, or someone to bring them groceries.
- Find organizations near you that connect you with elderly folks who need someone to run errands or just need to be checked in on.
- Become a crisis counselor through crisistextline.org
- Support small local businesses by purchasing their products or services.
- Offer help to small businesses that can benefit from your skills or resources. (Help improve SEO for their website, help with delivery, donate PPE or money, etc.)
- Reach out to your essential worker family and friends and show your appreciation over the phone, zoom, by email, or greeting card. These people are working tirelessly and risking their lives everyday for the benefit of all of us! Ask them what we can do to make their lives easier.
Even when we don’t have money or time to give, a few words of gratitude or kindness or even smile can go such a long way. Let’s all help in any way we can, big or small. And let’s remember, the best way to help others is to first take care of ourselves. We can be of service to others only when we are sound in mind and health.
