Why Slow Living Matters

A bench on my local walking trail.

​Did you ever see the Seinfeld episode when George and Kramer were talking about going to the movie theater?

“Why would I spent $7 to see a movie that I can watch on TV?” George asked in his typical incredulous fashion.

“Well, why go to a fine restaurant when you can just stick something in the microwave?” Kramer asks, looking all professory.

Indeed.

Why pay $7 to meet someone for coffee when you can just brew it at home and call that person? 

Why send a card when an email is so much easier?

Why hit the walking trail on a leisurely Saturday morning when a treadmill will do? 

While popping a meal in the microwave, brewing coffee at home, sending a personal email or using the treadmill have been or are the norm for me, I try to opt for experiences or connection whenever possible.

If a friend is available for lunch or coffee, I go. And I’m always glad when I do. 

I met a friend for lunch in a coffee shop this week, and we ended up talking for three and a half hours. We went deep. And as an introvert, that’s the type of connection I’m after. It’s the type of connection I need.

I live a pretty fast-paced life, so if I’m not intentional about slow living, it never happens. And if it never happens, I feel out of sorts and disconnected. And if I’m being honest, cranky.

Slow living, for me, will probably never mean Van Life or thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. As appealing as those are to me, I couldn’t afford the former and I couldn’t physically do the latter. So I look for ways to live slowly throughout the day – to read my Bible, pray, drive, connect with people, play a game, or experience the outdoors by hitting the walking trail by my house.

I’d love to hear from you. What does slow living look like in your life? And how important is it to you? What happens if you aren’t intentional about making it happen?