SLOW DOWN .... ENJOY LIFE
The Slow movement is a cultural shift towards slowing down life's pace. The Slow movement proposes consciously seizing control of time rather than being dictated by it and finding a balance between using time-saving technology and taking the time to enjoy a walk or a meal with others. Proponents believe that while technology can speed up working, eating, dating, etc. the most important things in life should not be rushed.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!"
The Slow movement first began when a protest against the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, Rome sparked the creation of the Slow Food organisation
The Slow movement advises some ways of slowing down:
.Get a Slow hobby, a leisurely pursuit like reading, writing, knitting, yoga, painting or gardening.
.Spread out your chores; do one load each day instead of all at once, or dust one day and vacuum the next.
.Stop watching the clock; on weekends try waking up to your body's natural rhythms rather than an alarm, and leave your watch at home
.Prepare a sit-down meal and savour it without watching TV, or reading. Enjoy the conversation if you're dining with others, or peaceful solitude if eating alone.
.On vacation slow down; don't try to cram every sight into your must-see list. Visit "slow cities" with local restaurants where you can eat slow
.Prune your to-do list; make time for the people and activities that you enjoy
We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment.
As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".
