Essentially, Slow is a book about a personal journey towards living a simpler, more intentional existence.
I’m not sure when I first came across the concept of slow living but lately, it’s grown closer to my heart. Maybe this is because my kids seem to be growing up so quickly. Life is moving fast. My whole outlook on ‘what really matters’ has shifted.
In my pursuit to learn from other people who are navigating their way to a slower, simpler life, I have discovered some great books offering insights into this less hurried, more intentional way of living.
Slow: Live Life Simply by Brooke McAlary is one of these.
Essentially, Slow is a book about a personal journey towards living a slower, more mindful existence. Brooke McAlary has documented her mission via her blog, Slow Your Home and has also produced and hosted The Slow Home podcast since 2015, through which she has interviewed over 100 people who have shared what ‘slow living’ means to them. In addition to Slow, Brooke has published the book, Destination Simple, which focuses on ways to incorporate easy, calming rituals into daily life.
Brooke’s concept of slow living will resonate with readers looking to pare back their own lives in the quest to simplify and focus on what’s important.
Through her own experiences and exploration, Brooke has developed a toolkit of tips for readers to consider using as they carve out their own path of simplification. She looks into the benefits of decluttering, mindful technology use, and the style of travel that her family now favours.
The chapter on ‘de-owning’ or accessing items without having to buy them was the most inspiring for me. She suggests the many ways resources can be acquired (i.e., sharing, borrowing and hiring) without having to permanently own them. Her mantra? If you need to buy something, buy once and buy well, buy ethically-produced products, and care less about trends and more about community and environment. I’m always interested in learning practical ways to ‘tread lighter’ so this was valuable information to take on board.
According to Brooke, everyone’s path to slow living will be different, a heartening perspective. It’s good to know there are different pathways to achieve similar benefits. She encourages readers to find their own version of slow living based on their individual circumstances and values. This makes sense to me.
Slow is an engaging and uncomplicated read, infused with honest reflections, accessible ideas and serene imagery. I will be holding a space for this book on my bookshelf for times when life gets a little too crazy and I need to be reminded to slooooow down and be more mindful.
