Radical Slow Living

It's time to broaden our notion of what a Slow Life can look like.

Welcome to Slow Folk - a community for heart-centred entrepreneurs and rebellious creatives, thirsty for a slower life in a world obsessed with speed.

These are my notes and reflections from over a decade of life in the Slow Lane. If you’re ready to push back against busy to build a life of purpose and presence-over-perfection - please join me.

Welcome to the Unbusy Revolution.

What do you picture when you think of Slow Living?

Pastoral fields? A modern farmhouse? Linen-clad children running barefoot through the garden chasing chickens?

Do you think of a specific aesthetic?

Candles, flowers on the table, a basket full of farmers market finds, muted neutrals, a perfect blend of modern thrift-store and socially-responsible Slow Fashion?

All of those things sound lovely, to be sure.

Some of those things even have a place in my own slow life.

And yet I wonder . . .

Slow Living is gaining in popularity. Niche to be sure, but thriving and growing every day.

Is the dominant depiction of slow living on social media getting in the way of our actually living a rich, authentic, personal slow life?

What if we want to slow down, but our personal vibe is less #cottagecore, more 90’s punk rock?

What if our idea of a full and purposeful life doesn’t involve moving to the country, spending all our meager earnings on handmade clothes or styling our home in modern farmhouse chic?

Again . . . nothing wrong with any of that. This isn’t a judgement of the beautiful slow living content in my feed.

I love a good cottage core moment as much as the next girl.

I also love a good mosh pit.

Part of my post-covid promises to myself was to a return to live music.

I’ve played the guitar since I was a kid, and throughout my teens and 20’s, gigs, jazz clubs and concerts were a part of my daily life.

From the Beastie Boys to Tori Amos to Modest Mouse to Paul Simon to my high school classmates covering Kind of Blue in a smokey bar - I love it all.

There is something about standing in a sea of strangers, the bass reverberating in my chest as our voices rise together in joyous, raucous song that simply makes me feel alive.

To me - one of life’s greatest joys is being in the presence of others who are living their life’s purpose; doing something creative and brave and vulnerable and generous.

Live music makes me come alive.

It allows me to be present in the moment. Time slows down.

I lose myself in the moment, the flow of the music, the rush of the crowd, the simultaneous delight and anxiety of the crush of strangers.

It connects me to both the world around me and to a part of myself that overflows with joy for joy’s sake.

Isn’t that what Slow Living is supposed to be about?

When embarking on a Slow Life, the question shouldn’t be - What does Slow Living look like?

The more beautiful question has already been asked -

What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver

• What lights you up?

• What makes you come alive?

• What allows you to lose track of time and space, float suspended in the moment?

Your heart already knows the way.

And if your heart leads you someplace that looks different from the depictions of Slow Living on social media - so be it.

Like Mary also said so beautifully - Joy is not made to be a crumb.

The world is full of pain and suffering. Don’t waste your one wild and precious life chasing someone else’s idea of joy.

And when you find yours, wrap it up in both arms. Hold it close. And for Pete’s sake - don’t you dare apologize for it.

This is why we’re here.

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. - Rumi

Stacey Langford is a writer, renegade farmer and slow business mentor living and working in Canada’s Fraser Valley. In 2010 Stacey ditched her cubicle in the city to turn her attention homeward, farm and help others craft a simple life, from scratch.

Are you ready to build a life - and a living - you actually love?

I help rebellious solopreneurs and creatives build businesses rooted in Slow Values. If you’re ready to step into your own Slow Life and finally claim your calling, let’s chat!