Slowing Down

One of the things I love about Italy is the slower pace of life. People there take the time to relax and enjoy life. I’ll never forget our first dining experience in Rome. We were accustomed to the speed and efficiency of American restaurants which work hard to turn their tables quickly. Yet in Rome (and everywhere else we’ve traveled in Italy), it’s different. Waiters don’t immediately appear at your table prompting you for an order. They don’t interrupt while you’re eating, and they don’t bring the bill in advance. Waiters allow you to set the pace. Patrons tell the servers when they are ready to order and when they are ready for the check.

We heard these four words often, “Sit back, relax, enjoy.” That friendly advice delivered in a thick Italian accent reminded us to enjoy the simple things, to not rush through life and the experiences it has to offer. Faster is not always better.

As Americans, we sometimes forget that life isn’t all about the destination. The journey can be just as much fun as the destination if you simply take time to enjoy it. When you stop rushing around, you can live more fully and remember things more vividly. According to Carl Honore, writer of the best-seller In Praise of Slow, “When we travel in roadrunner mode, we miss the small details that make each place thrilling and unique. You feel like you’re racing through your life instead of actually living it.”

Carl is a big proponent of something called the Slow Movement, a “cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting.”

The Slow Movement is the very antithesis of my life. It seems that I only allow myself to indulge its luxuries while on vacation. I am a tried-and-true “Type A” American — rushed, hurried, and always seeking new ways to increase my productivity so I can cram more things into a single day. It’s served me well over the course of the years, but as I grow older, I find myself craving a more leisurely lifestyle where I can “sit back, relax and enjoy” life more often.

The Slow Movement intrigues me. Can it really be possible to thrive in our frenzied American culture and still achieve professional and personal success while moving at a slower pace? Many say it can be done. I’m not entirely convinced, but I’d like to give it a try — to some extent.

Slow Movement members recommend practicing random acts of slowness, such as taking a break from the Blackberry, cooking unhurried meals, enjoying extra time with family, and taking long walks. These acts alone won’t slow down the pace of your life, but they can offer a few moments of solitude amidst the rush. That seems like a good place to start.