Do you ever think about living at a slower pace? Away from the hustle and bustle? Reading, writing, just getting inspiration down at the beach? Maybe collecting some fancy rocks with fossils imbedded in them?
Having time to enjoy leisurely time with friends? Not fighting traffic, because no one’s in a hurry anyway? Maybe this isn’t your dream. But for many who are able to try it, leaving a fast paced life is the key to freedom from everyday stress and even associated health risks. |
Before...
Climate was another issue. Where we lived was very hot in the summer, and cold in the winter, with lots of snow on the mountain passes that often prevented travel to family. I don't do well in the heat, so summer was mostly spent inside.
It's a tough thing to do sometimes, this practical, ruthlessly honest self assessment. There are still times when I'd love to think about moving to a beautiful log cabin on 25 acres in the Yukon, and think it would be a wonderful experience. But the reality check assures me it just wouldn't be a great thing to do, unless I happened to be many years younger.
That's another thing. As folks age this assessment becomes even more important. How many older folks have you seen who hang on to their homes and stuff until they're too old to deal with the business of moving into anything else except a retirement or assisted living complex? And then, whammo, they've suddenly lost it all. Worst of all, their choices become very limited.
I asked myself what I needed in a garden. One thing for sure was I didn't need so much of it, beautiful as it was. We talked quite briefly about the situation, and it didn't take long for us to be on our way to new pastures here on the Sunshine Coast.
After...
The climate is temperate. The people are friendly, kind, and there's a really big artsy core in the population! We're busy full time with all kinds of interesting activities. It took a while, a painful time to feel settled, but now it's happened. Life is slow, yet filled.
During the Christmas and New Year holidays many visitors tend to jump on the ferry that is the access to this piece of paradise. Among them this year was a couple from New York City. They spoke about their intense culture shock in the sudden transition to peace and quiet from their usual environment. It was greatly disturbing, yet pleasant for them. They described how everything seemed changed in their bodies, as they decelerated from fast to slow living. Out there is a sped up world, and it’s speeding up more all the time.
Visitors often remark how change first comes about in them when they drive our long, two lane highway, with its twists and turns preventing much speed, not to mention the fact that they can't overtake the vehicles in front of them! It's their first exercise in slowing their normal impulse to rush.
Some people get quite frantic about it, but seriously, the attitude here is, if you need to get there sooner, just start out a bit earlier.
Here’s another example of speed, this time in the finality of life. It gives new meaning to rest in peace.