Taking It Slow

June 24, 2020

Taking It Slow

Hey there,

Have you ever heard of...Slow living? Slow travel? Slow this? Slow that? Basically taking it easy and savouring the act; seems to have become a new hot trend. And just like other hot trends, it will, most likely, be forgotten after a few days by some; and/or will become a new habit for others. But what is the whole point? I can only account for my own feelings...

As I was reading a book this morning, a realisation hit me. I discovered a new trait in me--something that has remained dormant all this time, or rather something that I hadn't actively thought of before today, before this present moment.

I read really slow.

I am always the one who takes the most time to complete a storybook. I hadn't really paid much attention to this, but today I realise that what I'm really trying to do is savour each sentence. Understand the sentiments behind every word. Feel everything that I possibly can. Appreciate the real art behind each creation. And now that I think back, I have always felt this way.

Now that I look back, I have been reading at my own pace since forever. I love to feel everything.

I have travelled a lot. But as I had been too young to properly understand what travelling even meant; I definitely didn't do it the way I want to. Our trips were always planned by my father and his friends. They did excellent work in setting up an itinerary at a leisurely and non-hectic pace. But the only issue was, it wasn't leisurely enough for me. We were in the midst of our last major trip when I finally had this realisation. Still too young to know that I'm actually thinking of slow travel; but old enough to realise that I wanted to spend more time in this rustic hotel nestled in the mountains and less time in that fancy claustrophobic hotel in town. It's a good idea to have a planned itinerary, but better still to make it flexible, right?

Somehow the virus has brought our fast-paced lives to a halt. As such, it has finally made way for me to stop and look at the rain hitting the trees. Stare at it without having the annoying thought of returning back to work, hammer the back of my brain.

Sometimes, it's so satisfying to just feel the rain gently perform on your face...

I catch myself finding more meaning in the words and actions of others, things that were deceptively hidden in the thoughts and feelings of a fellow friend are suddenly becoming clear now. I'm observing more, enjoying more too. Finally, I can listen to a song just because I want to listen to it. It's not serving as a helping hand to make study hours more enjoyable anymore. The song has expanded itself and become the sole priority, now.

I don't know how long I'll be able to live my life slowly. I don't know whether I should be happy or sad that I am being able to do it now. All I know is that leisure has opened up this new domain of taking things slow in my life. And I love it. Something that I need to remember if (and when) the old normal is back again. I now know how to enjoy freedom more and am super excited about this new discovery. For now.