The Slow Concept

Have you ever heard of Slow Food?  Most likely you're aware of fast food, but have you ever thought about what the opposite of that would be and why whatever the opposite of it is would be so inspiring to so many?

Just this past Labor Day weekend, San Francisco played host to Slow Food Nation.  This huge event was a gathering of people, food, market and music to celebrate the concept of Slow Food.  My wife is way into food, restaurants, and eating, so when I heard about the event I thought of her and decided to learn a bit about it. 

According to the Slow Food USA website, "Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment."  Very interesting. 

As I perused their site, I remembered reading an article about the concept of Slow Home.  Yes, they are interrelated.  In fact, the architect and academic, John Brown, that founded the concept of Slow Home has a rich website devoted to his movement, as well.  His site is extremely detailed and gives a thorough background and explanation of both his movement and Slow Food, the idea that started it all.  One section explains, "In the same way that slow food raises awareness of the food we eat and how these choices affect our lives, Slow Home provides design focused information to empower each of us to take more control of our homes and improve the quality of where and how we live."  Also very interesting.  Especially for us Realtors.

As I sat reading the background of the Slow Home and Slow Food movements on Brown's site, it got me thinking.  If we could tie these two movements in and add even more aspects of all of our lives that rush us around and make us crazy here in the Tri-Valley and all over the world, we could call it Slow Life.  I thought I was on to something. 

The more I thought about it, I really liked the idea.  For several years now, I have felt the need to slow down.  Actually, for me it is more about focusing on quality versus quantity.  That goes for everything that I experience, whether it be food, time with my kids and wife, business, free time, etc.

Sure enough, as I kept reading I discovered the Slow Food and Slow Home movements have already been studied and expanded.  There is a book out there by Carl Honore entitled, In Praise of Slow: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging The Cult of Speed.  From what I understand, Honore explains in his book the global Slow movement came about as a sort of backlash against our frenetic pace, the common mantra that faster is better and purposely towards an embracement of deceleration.  Even more interesting.

As I sit and reflect on what I've learned it comes to mind that some people might confuse Slow with backward.  I don't think this is what is meant by the movement at all.  I do think that technology and strategic thinking and "pushing the envelope" would all be welcomed by the Slow concept.  This isn't about denying yourself or your business advancements, but about concentrating on making what you have and what you appreciate better.

What do you think?  Is Slower better than faster?