Make some time for this: Seeking Slow (Barnes)

Ironically, I started to read this book when I had ten minutes free before rushing off to do something. I came back again later and began to make the time to read this book and think about its messages and suggestions.

We all know that life is hectic, that many only feel okay while being productive and that it is hard to slow down. This book will help readers to think about what is important about slow living, as it helps you to understand why slow living is important. It is well worth your time to find out.

The book is divided into many chapters and is illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs. Readers can read straight through or look first at what makes most sense for them. There are sections on everything from creating rituals to explanations of what mindfulness and meditation are, to learning to listen to your body, pay and more. Hopefully, readers will take away the intended message and will begin to slowly enjoy life more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this helpful read. All opinions are my own.

#SeekingSlow #NetGalley

From the publisher:

Slow Living AN INTRODUCTION

What would happen if we lived our lives at a slower pace? If we occasionally paused for thought, simplified our lifestyles, and created space for moments of stillness, perhaps we would also find more joy and happiness. We all know how easy it is to get swept away with a busy day; time can pass in a bit of a blur and we often don’t feel like we were there for any of it. In order to be the happiest and healthiest we can be, it is necessary to look at slowing down and reconnecting to ourselves. Living slowly and simply is the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of twenty-first-century life.

Seeking Slow provides simple ways for you to slow down and reconnect with yourself, your family, and your surroundings—while finding joy in doing so


The Challenges of Our Modern Age With the demands of twenty-first-century life, no wonder people are looking for alternative ways to live. For me, slow and simple living encompasses all the fundamental values that help my family live a more wholehearted life, from being connected to the present moment to appreciating the little things, and taking time to enjoy and celebrate life. Of course, there are many things that can hinder us on our quest to live more slowly, including the glorification of being “busy,” consumer culture and materialism, and our digital age and virtual consumption, all things that we need to evaluate in our lives and decide whether we want and/or need a lifestyle change.	Time We would all like more time to do as we please, including time to slow down, relax, enjoy life, and connect with the ones we love. Time can seem so elusive; it can both drag and fly by. Time is a resource that we simply cannot get back. Once it has gone, it is gone. No wonder a lot of us are obsessed with being as productive as possible with our time. Perhaps we feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all the things that need doing. Maybe that’s why we clock-watch and cram every minute of the day with tasks. If we are not achieving things and crossing them off our to-do lists, many of us feel like we have wasted our day.	Learning to Nurture Ourselves Learning to nurture and really look after ourselves is one of life’s essential lessons, yet many of us find it difficult to do. However, in recent years, “self-care” has become an increasingly popular topic and a growing industry. We are also beginning to understand how far the term “well-being” stretches and what it encompasses, realizing that it is linked to our personal happiness, as well as a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It is crucial to carve out time in our week to tend to ourselves; otherwise, we are left running on empty. If we do not make time to look after our well-being, then we cannot be present for those around us, fulfill our responsibilities, and live a wholehearted life.


Well-Being BODY We often do all our “thinking” with our minds, even though our bodies possess inherent intelligence. They often know what is best for us: when we need to rest, when we need fresh air and exercise. If we take just a moment to think about all the amazing things our bodies do—all the movements, automated bodily functions, brain processing, tissue growth and repairs, hormone releases, etc.—then it makes sense for us to put some time aside to take care of and look after them. By slowing down things, we are able to listen to our bodies with more clarity and develop our body-mind connection, which in turn allows us to feel connected to our “self” in new ways.	A Slow Home Our homes and what we surround ourselves with are deeply intertwined with our slow-living experience. And it is essential to invest some time looking closely at our homes and whether we have them set up in a way that supports us and encourages a slower pace. How our homes feel, and the space around us, can make an impact on our well-being. A slow home can help us to connect deeply to ourselves and allow us to focus on the important things.	Seasonal Living Connecting to and understanding the seasons has been a big part of my family’s slow-living journey. There is so much inspiration to be found in nature and the seasons with regard to slowing down and living more simply. Nature does not know how to hurry; the blossoms bloom when they are ready and the leaves fall when it is time. Living seasonally gives the year a shape and rhythm of its own and a lot of comfort can be gained from familiarity with these rhythms.

Being fully present and intentional with your time allows you to embrace the wholehearted moments that are right in front of you every day


Sustainability When slowing our homes, we also need to consider reducing our environmental impact. There are two key areas to examine to live as sustainably as possible: our conscious shopping habits (this applies to everything from shopping for food, housewares, and clothing to luxuries and cleaning and beauty products) and how responsible we are when disposing of any waste we create.	Well-Being MIND AND SOUL When we begin to live more slowly, we find we have time to look within—space unfolds and allows us to deeply think and reevaluate things. We have time to think about the purpose and meaning within our lives, and naturally, we become more intentional and thoughtful with the decisions we make. Both meditation and mindfulness are explorations of the mind and help us be more thoughtful, focused, and calm. Practicing meditation and mindfulness is the perfect way to take the time to understand the intricacies of our minds and ourselves. They can bring out the best side of human nature and help us cope with the day-to-day challenges that life throws at us, like stress at work, paying our bills, and raising children.	Daily Slow-Living Rituals There is an art to creating a ritual. A ritual is a moment that we consciously take the time to absorb and be truly present in. If we deconstruct it, a ritual is a ceremony of a series of sacred actions. Tiu De Haan, ritual designer and inspirational speaker, describes a ritual as a container around a moment, rather like a frame around a piece of art. She also explains that a “ritual nourishes the soul like food and water nourish the body.”22 Rituals can bring moments of reverence into our days in the simplest ways. The art of the ritual becomes a visual and physical cue for our body to slow down, be mindful, breathe a little deeper, and be more present. By understanding a ritual in these terms, we can see the benefit of making rituals a part of our daily routine.

Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

I love to read, recommend books and open the world of reading to others. I tutor to ensure that the next generation of readers will know the joys of a good book because their reading skills have improved. I am an avid reader, especially of mysteries and fiction. I believe that two of the world's greatest inventions were the public library and eyeglasses! View all posts by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews