{ Slow Living and why I embrace it }

 

Slow living..... 

 

What is it?  Why do I love it?   Why do I embrace it in my own life? 

 

Slow living is merely the act of being intentional with your time and the way you approach everything in your daily lives.  

 

In Japan they use the word 'ukino' to describe slow living.  It literally means 'to live in the moment and be far from common life matters'. 

 

Just reading that description makes my soul do somersaults.   Yes, yes and another yes!!!

It's no secret to anyone here, that I've been all about the slow life, living simply, country living, stepping outside to enjoy nature, kind of life.  It's something I've aspired to for many years.  Granted, there are times that chaos and busy schedules can't be avoided, but in between those rushing moments, I still find time to stop and breathe.

In my attempt to research this whole way of life, I came upon some very good channels on Youtube.  I know you love all the videos I share on Mondays, but prepare yourselves for another whole level of calming and beautiful imagery.

 

I'm going to share some of my favorites here with you, but if you want to find others, just try doing a search for Slow Living on Youtube.  Just be sure you have an hour or so on hand, it will draw you right in and you'll be sucked down a hole.  Haha

 

But before I share these channels with you, let's dig a little deeper into what slow living really is.

 

Being mindful and present is one of the biggest needs if you're looking for this way of life.  We have so many distractions, and I speak for myself when I tell you that I too am constantly being flooded with information and scattered thoughts.

 

Sometimes even while trying to pray, I get lost, start thinking about other things going on around me and lose track of what I was doing.  So many ideas, cellphones, tvs, text messages pinging us throughout the day.  That has become a normal part of life, but we don't have to let it completely envelop our beings.

 

So being mindful and present is the first step to conquering the craziness in our lives.

 

Embracing the quiet.....so many out there have an aversion to quiet.  I even have family members that don't like being alone, don't like being in the quiet and prefer a busier, on the go lifestyle.  

 

This one for me was easy.  I've always been a homebody, always thrived on silence and being alone, and I have no problem whatsoever being in my house for days at a time, minding my own business and puttering around.

  

Truly, there is no right or wrong way to live a slow life.  We all have different lifestyles, different family needs, different homes and different ways of doing things.  

 

It is being present with your family.  For example, how many times have you gone out for a fun family day, and then spent most of that time with your nose glued to your phone using the excuse that you're sharing to Facebook, Instagram, taking pictures for later memories?

 

*raises hand*

 

I used to be extremely guilty of doing this.  All in the name of blogging and now Instagram.  A visit to the museum just meant some really cool photo opportunities for  later.  A meal at a restaurant garnered some amazing food shots.  Walking through the park or by the river meant my phone in my hand constantly taking videos or candid moments between family members.

I almost felt like I was present but only in body because my spirit and thoughts were elsewhere.

Now here's the kicker, you don't have to stop posting your photos, stop sharing what you're doing online, or let a good opportunity for a photo op go by.  You can do both, take the shot you want, share the instagram story you want, then set the phone aside and immerse yourself in the moment.  

 

Bake that bread at home, enjoy the process from dough to beautiful loaves that will sustain your family.

 

Stop and appreciate every little thing you do.  The swirls the milk makes as it pours into a hot cup of coffee.  The steam that seems to dance up from the rim of the cup, and the way the sunlight splashes on the petals of the flowers at the kitchen window.

Slow!

Slow down, take it in, leave the crazy world outside.  Search calmness and quiet.  Find peace within your home, and spread it to your husband and children.  

And to finish off, one thing that really helped me was learning to say no.

I've always been a people pleaser, I would rather put myself in uncomfortable situations, go to places I didn't want to, or say yes to doing something with someone, for fear of hurting their feelings.

But while their needs and wants were being met, I was feeling overwhelmed, sad, and stretched thin.

 

So I started saying no.  No thank you.  No I don't feel like doing that.  No I really can't.

 

At first I felt awful, guilty, like I was being a horrible person.  But what I quickly started realizing is that every time I said no, my inner peace would grow.  

 

People weren't angry at me for declining things, they just moved on with their day.  

 

All of this just to tell you that you CAN have a slow paced life, if you take the time to breathe, to choose to slow down and say no to the fast life we are all thrown into.

 

Ok, now with that out of the way, let me introduce you to some {a lot} of Youtube channels, that are all about the slow paced kind of life.  

 

I hope you get as much joy and peace out of watching them, as I do.

 

 

 

 

 

I have many and I mean many, many more to share, but I don't want to overwhelm you all at once.

So, I will continue sharing them, but in a different post.  These are just some of my favorites, and as always keep in mind that just because I enjoy them, others may not, they are merely suggestions.

I wish you all success in your own simple living, slow living journeys.  I would love to know if any of your already follow this way of life, how you got there, what made you crave it.  

Let's have a chit chat in the comments :)