What If We All Slowed The F*** Down?

Making the Case for an Unhurried Existence.

In a world where speed is idolized and the next big thing is always around the corner, I've found myself asking: what’s the rush? Because we dart from task to task, meeting to meeting, and tweet to tweet, in a desperate sprint to...where, exactly? 

It’s a question that I began to ponder deeply some years ago, while sitting in meditation, slowly unfurling the knots of my overclocked life. I was yearning for a different rhythm—one that aligned more closely with my desire for a more inner-connected and expansive life. 

It turns out, there’s an ancient wisdom in taking things slow. The I-Ching, the Tao Te Ching, and the Bhagavad Gita all speak to the power of embracing a more deliberate, mindful pace. As Lao Tzu writes in the Tao Te Ching, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” 

That simple truth hit me like a gentle but firm gong to the soul. It said to me that perhaps there’s more value in the flow than the frantic rush to the finish line. 

Slowing My Roll

Slowing down didn't happen overnight for me. I was as guilty as anyone of racing through my days, checking off boxes, and squeezing in "mindfulness moments" like another chore. But as I leaned into Eastern philosophies, I started to appreciate the concept of being present, of truly inhabiting the moment, no matter how mundane or magical it might be. 

The Bhagavad Gita advises us to detach from the fruits of our labor, urging us instead to focus on the action itself. In slowing my roll, I began to see my life not as a series of goals to be conquered but as an unfolding journey to be savored.

There’s humor in this realization, too. I’ve caught myself in moments where I was rushing through meditation. 

Rushing through meditation! How absurd! It’s like gulping down a glass of fine wine without ever letting it breathe. 

I began to notice the tightness in my body, the shallow breaths, the clenched jaw—all signs that I was a hamster in a wheel. And so, I started to slow things down, one breath, one step, one choice at a time.

A Nod to the Slow Food Movement

This shift toward slowness isn’t just a personal epiphany. The 1980s Slow Food Movement, founded in Italy as a protest against the opening of a McDonald's in Rome, sparked a global revolution of mindful consumption. 

The idea was simple but radical: savor food, know where it comes from, and honor the cultural and ecological systems that make it possible. It was a delicious rebellion against fast food and, more broadly, against fast life.

Since then, the Slow Food Movement has evolved into a broader philosophy that touches on sustainability, community, and well-being—principles that are deeply resonant with Eastern wisdom. 

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, often teaches the virtue of patience, implying that like a well-prepared meal, the most valuable things in life often require time, care, and presence to fully appreciate. It’s in the simmer, not the boil, where the magic happens.

The Benefits of Slow Sex and Pleasurable Orgasms

Now, let’s be candid for a moment. Embracing slowness isn’t just about food, meditation, or decluttering your calendar. It extends to more intimate aspects of life too—like sex. 

The Taoists were particularly attuned to the idea that slow, intentional sex, with its focus on connection rather than performance, leads to deeper, more pleasurable orgasms. 

It’s about being fully present, savoring each sensation, each moment, rather than rushing toward a climactic finish line. This slow approach isn't just more enjoyable—it’s more human. 

Living More Human in a Less Frenetic Manner

Living slowly isn’t about abandoning ambition or progress; it’s about finding a more sustainable rhythm that honors our humanity. Carl Honore, in his seminal book “In Praise of Slowness,” talks about the 'slow movement' as a cultural shift towards balance. He asks, “Why are we so afraid of slowness?” Indeed, what are we running from, and what might we gain if we allowed ourselves to slow down?

Honore notes that “slow is not a dirty word,” advocating instead for a conscious deceleration that brings us back to our senses, our bodies, our natural rhythms. 

In a world perpetually set on fast-forward, he reminds us that “the secret is balance: being fast when it makes sense, and slow when it doesn't.” This wisdom resonates with the Taoist principle of Wu Wei—effortless action that flows in harmony with the way of nature.

A More Sustainable Alternative to Modern Busyness

So, what does all this mean for our frenetic lives today? For one, it suggests that there’s an alternative to the cult of busyness—a way to do less but be more. By embracing slowness, we can align our lives more closely with our values and desires. We can learn to savor each experience, whether it’s a meal, a walk, a breath, or even an orgasm.

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