Here’s the deal: most people read blogs to learn about a topic from an expert. I get it, and I do, too…but for this blog post, I’m approaching this subject from an approachable mindset: with a beginner’s perspective, newly initiated on the path of slow living. It’s less focused on the do’s and don’ts, and more oriented towards what I’ve learned so far, while acknowledging the “why” behind this focused process.

Before we dive into this “why” and get to the heart of the matter, it’s vital that we start with the “what”. What is slow living, anyway?

For me, it has two parts: the pace of my life, and the intentionality behind what I do. While studying interior design in college, I attended a class on sustainable practices. With piqued interest, I wondered how I could apply this sustainability to my life. For years, I’ve loved thrifting, upcycling, and repurposing, but knew I could take this passion further. Asking questions and practicing thorough product research was doable to me, and so, the process began. At a snail’s pace, no less, but I felt no rush to make major changes.

Life Transitions and Refocusing

 After a cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2014, I still didn’t make drastic changes. I did what I could where I could, such as eating more organic foods and buying healthier beauty products. I ultimately shifted my perspective to consume less; yet deep down inside, I knew there were definitely more options available. Then came the inevitable, in the form of a huge transition in my life, and it was one I’ve had the most difficulty with accepting: a new status as an empty nester.

I married and had my girls at a young age, becoming a stay-at-home mom and homeschooling my kids partly through high school. Both of them have gone on to be successful in their own respective fields; although I had a bit more time on my hands, I felt uncomfortable investing in myself. 

After taking care of my immediate family, I quickly moved onto extended family, then church family, and so on. I was losing myself through other people; I’m Hispanic, so I’m still not quite sure if caretaking is just a cultural thing. I grew up witnessing my mother and grandmother wearing themselves out in the process of tending to everyone but themselves, and it seemed strange to me when I met a woman who talked about self-care (especially at church). In Christian circles, when the word “self” precedes anything, there can be misinterpretations. As a believer, the word “sacrifice” was as common as the word “coffee” is for some.

It all came to a head in the fall of 2019. I knew I needed to dive deep because strong emotions were stirring within me. I experienced feelings of adequacy and stagnation, with a fear of mediocrity rampantly brewing. After much prodding from my youngest, I decided to talk with a counselor, Julie. She validated the thought that it was okay for me to think of me, helping me to see the draining of my self-love tank that I had perpetuated for years.

I was living off the drudge of years of experience, pouring out, and putting others first. I didn’t have much else to give because, admittedly, there wasn’t much left. After this realization, I found my quality time with God was stronger, and far more consistent. It was through the active seeking of a deeper relationship with God that prompted these emotions to arise; He was choosing this area and knew I couldn’t prepare for the next chapter of my life until I put down the baggage I no longer needed in my travels.

During this time, I decided to implement a lifestyle focused on slow living with devotion. Below are a few practical tips I’ve acquired thus far.

 

Define Slow Living by How You Want to Live

• The Research: Many of us will agree that the internet and social media can be a curse, yet we can consider it a blessing, with the endless modern information and knowledge that is now accessible to us through a few simple clicks or keystrokes. For me, YouTube and Pinterest were helpful in discovering more about slow living and an intentional lifestyle. Two great sources on YouTube are The Girl and the Word and Girl in Calico, both young women who approach this lifestyle in their own individual ways.
• The Definition: The sheer volume of information on slow living may be overwhelming; however, it’s important to remember that this is about you and your lifestyle. Embark on this journey as it best suits you. During my initial research, I discovered a lot of information on minimalism, which I consider to be my first obstacle. If a maximalist and a minimalist had a baby, it would be me. I saw myself as the Goldilocks of slow living: not too much, not too little, but just right. Find what works for you and follow it. We research to learn beneficial knowledge, but ultimately define it as how we want to live in actuality.
• The Mindfulness: There is a certain mindfulness required to adapt to a new way of living. My mindfulness began with evaluating the pace of my life. For years, I lived in a rushed space, always going, doing, here or there, never stopping. The busyness drove the madness and vice versa; it was last fall that God found me with Ecclesiastes 3:1 –

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (NIV)

God’s gift to me, during those difficult months, was time. Time to create space for what matters to me, to invest in myself, to slow down the pace I had gotten so accustomed to, and to declutter my mind. It was time to ask myself some hard questions, make decisions, and return to my first love; inviting God to those difficult areas, allowing things to heal.

It was then that I fell in love with the idea of slow intentionality, and realized it was not about the external measures – though these are crucial – but the beauty in matters of the heart, spaces where only God truly sees.

Finally, for the “why”: for me, slow living is the act of making more room for God, what is important to Him, and choosing the circumstances rather than the circumstances choosing me. Slow living focuses on the pattern Jesus set, to step away from the daily challenges he faced; to seek restoration and renewal from his heavenly father and changing his pace to intentionally prioritize what mattered most to him.

Jesus Set His Pace

 I pray that these simple tools plant a seed for you to consider the idea of a lifestyle oriented towards slow living. It is a journey I have been on for months now and am already experiencing an incredible difference. I hope you join me via your own path, where our roads ultimately cross with intention, devotion, and a pace that mirrors the divine.