11 July, a Slow-Down Sunday Documented
Back in this post, I wrote on the concept of slowing down and why our world and humanity needs it. Since then, I’ve struggled hard to live this out, despite making intentions to set Sundays aside to slow-down.
It’s as though my life proved the point of the opening quote of that post, that “in a world of doing, going, and producing, we have no use for a gift that invites us to stop.” I’ve even gone through a tough season of burn out to further illustrate that I’ve subscribed to the idea that rest is of no use to me.
As I recover and rediscover this gift once again, my life illustrates not just the ease of subscribing to the norm that rest is a myth and seemingly useless, but also that the push against the grain is worth theresistance, too.
To set myself up for greater Slow-down Sunday success, I made sure to delete the Instagram app off my phone on Saturday night.
Sometimes it’s easy to live too much into the online world that I forget I have a whole life and real people I can be present with.
MmmmMm
the sound of satisfaction from this sunday
bracelets and bead work
rooting sweet italian basil
and inhaling the warmth of this favourite aromatic
Learning to live simply and sustainably includes being resourceful about what I already have.
I thought of making use of this opportunity to sew up this large hole in the crotch-area of one of my older pairs of shorts. The material is still fine apart from the threads coming loose from wear and tear.
visible
m e n d i n g
Meditating consistently
I’ve incorporated meditation into my routine for the past 2 months.
I use Balance, and they are offering the app free for your first year. The interface is simple, and each day you meditate builds upon the skills you learn the day before.
It’s been helping me manage distressing thoughts and in helping my nervous system stay regulated.
The day ended off with a fresh dig into a book: Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin. I eased into the read in the living room bathed by the warm lamp, with Oreo accompanying me as she slept.
Inertia can be great even when you have good intentions for what you set out to do. What helped me was making a rough plan for the activities that were purely ‘play’ for me (e.g. the beading), and also making allowances in my expectations of the day’s schedule; that things can change and to accept myself moving into each part fluidly.
It may be extremely counterintuitive to engage in activities that are rewarding, yet lead to no concrete profitable outcomes, but I think that’s how you truly learn to slow down and embrace your humanity and the gifts laid before you in your life.