The Curious History of SLOW LIVING
Slow living (sloh liv-ing: Proto-Germanic *slæwaz)
1. a lifestyle which encourages an intentional approach to all aspects of everyday life
Back in 1986 a tiny company called McDonalds decided to open a restaurant in the heart of Italy. The location they chose was the Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps. And at the time it was the largest McDonald’s in the entire world.
Many Italians were not happy.
Locals felt that the restaurant was a desecration of the Roman monument. Numerous protests, a lawsuit, and the efforts of many failed to close the restaurant, and in fact it’s still there today (open from 7AM–1AM daily).
In response, a political activist named Carlo Petrini founded the International Slow Food movement in 1989, with the goal (in their own words) “to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract the rise of fast life, and combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us”.
Or to put it more simply … to counter the spread of ultra-processed food products that are eaten on the go and instead focus on local offerings and a leisurely pace of consumption … preferably in the company of good friends and good wine.
Since its humble beginnings, Slow Food International has become a global movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries. Sadly its initial foe, McDonald’s, is still the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue. It serves over 69 million customers daily through over 40,000 outlets and continues to grow globally, bringing the American ideal of efficient, uniform, and ever faster food to the masses.
In 2004 a man named Carl Honoré penned a book titled “In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed” which promotes the idea that instead of going through our daily lives as productively and quickly as we possibly can, we should instead slow down, enjoy living, and embrace the world around us.
Carl Honoré’s book helped to explain the link between the Slow Food movement and Slow Living. And today there are a large number of other “slow” ideals that are becoming more and more popular: Slow Cities, Slow Money, Slow Gardening, Slow Travel, and Slow News to name a few.
“The central tenet of the Slow philosophy is taking the time to do things properly, and thereby enjoy them more,” says Carl Honoré. And on the surface that concept appears to be an easy-to-achieve way of life. But as with every “movement” there comes division and distinction between practitioners.
According to Slow Living LDN, Slow Living isn’t about slowing down our tasks and workloads, it’s “changing the tasks that we do” giving us the “headspace to prioritize what’s important and assign the right amount of time to each task or activity”. So for many, Slow Living is simply a better form of task management.
Others, like MarthaStewart.com, look at Slow Living through the lens of technology. They write “taking the first step towards this entails redefining your relationship with your phone, tablet, or other gadgets and making more room in your life for screen-free time”.
Carl Honoré writes “A cornerstone of slow living is forging a more balanced, healthier, happier, and more humane relationship with our technology … [It’s] knowing when to go on and use that incredible thrilling speed of technology — and then knowing when enough is enough and to stop scrolling through Instagram or stop surfing the net while watching Netflix or just simply stop being in front of a screen.”
So is Slow Living a redefinition of how tasks are prioritized and executed? Is it a denial of activities that don’t adhere to a more traditional and slower pace of life?
MarthaStweart.com continues “another key element of slow living is letting go of the fear of missing out — and instead of trying to do every single thing, honing in on the things that matter”.
The sworn enemy of Slow Living is often called Hustle Culture, and no one embodies this concept more than a YouTuber named Casey Neistat. One of the most successful creators on the platform his manta is “Do More”. In fact he has those exact words tattooed on his arm, along with another that reads “Work Harder”. Casey lives in New York City and his entire channel, his entire life, is in the pursuit of achievement.
Is he successful? By his and your typical American’s standards … yes, very. He currently has 12.5 MILLION subscribers to his channel. As of January 2023 his net worth has been estimated to be $16 Million. He is recognized wherever he goes and is showing no signs of losing momentum. And the central theme of just about every video he creates is … hustle. He is a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Many of those that adhere to Hustle Culture would say that Slow Living is simply an excuse for those who “couldn’t cut it”. Who wouldn’t work hard enough. Or who simply failed. But in actuality, Hustle Culture and Slow Living are not all that dissimilar. They just take a different approach at living priorities.
OK, and one is arguably healthier than the other.
Slow Living is actually a misnomer in my opinion. It’s not necessarily slow. For instance, I can go down to Mexico and climb a Mayan pyramid all while practicing a Slow Life. Does that mean I must ascend those narrow steps in a less speedy manner? Or does my attempting the climb mean I will somehow violate a sacred tenet of the movement by seeking adventure?
The answer is neither. When I climbed the main pyramid at the Archaeological Site of Mayapan in 2022 I was indeed embodying the definition of Slow Living. My undivided passion was on my YouTube channel and on gaining that incredible cultural experience. I didn’t allow additional and unnecessary activities to compete with those desires. I didn’t rush from one activity to another in order to maximize opportunities. I was in the moment and that moment lasted as long as it needed to last.
Many proponents of Slow Living will disagree with those statements. The implication that one can wantonly travel the world and still have a Slow Life. These folks tend to assume the role of a Zen Master. Using meditation, quasi-mysticism, and an absolute (almost totalitarian) adherence to traditional activities, they promote a form of the movement that many newcomers assume must be the one true way. After all, the first word in the name is “Slow”, right? But Slow Living isn’t just running away from the city to live in an idyllic cabin in the woods, where one shuns technology and speed all in the name of organic living.
Well, not unless that’s your passion. Then it can be a pretty good definition of Slow Living.
So what is the movement truly about then? Well, it’s … exactly whatever you want it to be. It does not have rules. It only asks that whatever you include in your life you do so with passion and intent. With focus. It asks that you put aside the dangerous notion that efficiency and speed are always the most desired outcome. It requests that you don’t include limits on your time, that you be comfortable setting limits with others instead, and that whatever you turn your mind to brings you pleasure.
Slow Living is defining your own life, on your own terms, at a speed that brings you health and joy.
“A cornerstone of being slow is saying no,” says Honoré. “It’s relearning the lost art of saying no, of prioritizing, of taking the time to pause, reflect, and look at your life and say, ‘What is really important?’ Then focus your time and attention on those things and let everything else go.”
For me, Slow Living means turning the other cheek. Choosing not to be that angry driver who rages every time another dares to interfere with the orderly and speedy course towards my destination. It means selecting activities not out of boredom but rather ones that will bring me knowledge and happiness, and then pursuing them with an active zest. Slow Living means allowing time and passion for what I want to enjoy, and being comfortable allowing everything else to fade into the background without guilt.
I’m just as dedicated as Casey and the other hustle seekers when it comes to my passions. He runs at top speed through New York City trying to achieve his goals. I drive slowly in a converted school bus named The Huckleberry, never topping 55mph, all the while looking for interesting ideas on the road. I do “work hard enough”. I am “cutting it”. And I’m also very much leading a Slow Life.
Do I feel the pressure of time occasionally? Give in to boredom or the demands of others? Of course, we’re all human. But I also try to take every moment and not let it go until I feel it’s ready for release. I have a full calendar, but only with activities that bring me joy. I no longer allow outside (on internally created) pressures to impinge on my moments. Slow Living, to me, is a personal lifestyle in which I focus not on the expectations of others, but on the needs of where I choose to be.
