Slow Down: Join the Movement!

By September 13, 2010Uncategorized

Does it seem like the pace of life is speeding up? If you say “yes,” you are not alone. This appears not to be simply an American phenomenon, as people all over the world have noticed this fact. Several people have made initiatives to slow things down a bit, including the slow food movement (in opposition to the fast food movement) which began in Italy and quickly spread to France, and now the US. The slow food movement encourages people to cook their meals rather than order their meals through a drive-up window or microwave them in a plastic bag. This movement also encourages people to actually taste the food that enters their mouth and chew it, rather than inhale it, or consume the equivalent of a whole meal while standing at the fridge. Although the data isn’t in yet, speculation suggests that the number of speeding tickets is also on the rise (in case you were wondering, Police Departments across the country really do set quotas, as reported recently on the NPR show, This American Life. Given the shortfall of municipal tax base revenues due to foreclosures, the fines for speeding tickets have increased dramatically too!) The pace of life may be quickening, but you don’t have to add to the furry. Slow down!

Stress Tip for the Day:
How many meals do you prepare from scratch in your home. How long does it take to consume a meal? Do you eat on the run (or standing at the fridge?) Do you travel the speed limit on local municipal roads? How many speeding tickets have you received in the past year? Do you literally find yourself out of breath racing from errand to errand? Do you suffer from heartburn (acid reflux)? This may be an indication that you are someone who inhales your food rather than chewing it. If you answered yes to any of these, there is a pretty good chance you are living your life in the fast lane, headed for burnout. Take some time to re-evaluate your life and see where it is that you can pull into the slow lane and stop to smell the roses.

Links or Books Worth Noting:
There are several books on the Slow Food Movement, including Marc David’s book, The Slow Down Diet.
Here are some links that you might find of interest as well.
http://www.slowfood.com/
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Food

Photo of the Day: This photo was taken on a lazy morning stroll along the dock facing Mount Otemanu on the island of Bora Bora, Tahiti. Enjoy!

Quote for the Day: “Slow down, you move to fast, you’ve got to make the morning last.” Paul Simon, 59th Street Bridge Song

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Brian Luke Seaward

Author Brian Luke Seaward

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  • Ann Kroeker says:

    It’s great to hear another voice urging peopel to slow down, reminding people of the link between stress and eating fast…if we can reach people one by one and bring them back to the dinner table where they can enjoy good food and good conversations, maybe we can give our fast-paced culture the sweet taste of the slower life. Change will be hard, though, because people have fallen into the high-speed habit.

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