ASAP - As slow as possible

Trying to live slowly in a fast paced life + Exciting news!

We’re all given 24 hours. All of us. 

Sleep, food, and basic hygiene aside; there are a couple of hours we get to work for the day.

Within those work hours, rest is important and so is managing our social and personal life.

Then, for a few of us (like me) who live by ourselves additional responsibilities like cooking meals, washing utensils, cleaning the house, washing clothes and other miscellaneous tasks also take much of time.

Now, how can one try to live a slow life when even the window to do quality work is a quarter of the entire day?

Don’t you worry, this is not a question that I am asking you but to myself.

After living slowly for the past few months, life seems to have picked up the fifth gear.

For a person like me whose entire life trajectory has gone in to figure out and mend my relationship with work, I feel rather grateful that work these days is quite exciting.

Whether it’s bringing money home or not is a separate question and not to be worried about right now but it is really interesting that I can say with certainty.

But, Rishabh what work?

• Writing every day on Instagram

• Writing thrice a week on LinkedIn

• Writing weekly on Substack

• Conducting weekly writing spaces on Topmate

• Editing my book (Out this year!)

• Collabs with other fellow artists

• Developing a storytelling module with a friend

• Working on a few freelancing projects

• Designing and conducting a walking pilgrimage in the mountains

• READING (A writer must read, right?)

While slowness has gone for a toss, I am glad to still have a lot of silence around.

By virtue of living alone, there is immense silence around throughout the day. Silence also invites for slowness and I am glad to have at least one of the two as company!

Things that I do that help me slow down a bit are

• Reading first thing in the morning and before going to sleep

• Brewing my coffee

• Preparing meals

• Going for a short walk after waking up

• Again, going for a short walk during sunset

These activities serve as microcapsules of slowness and rest on a fast, busy day. By virtue of living in the mountains, a peep outside my window on a busy day puts my brain to calm and rest. I tell myself that most of my dreams have come true, the dream of building a sustainable, slow life will come true as well, and maybe this is the path to it.

That was my attempt to have a slow week in the fast-paced world. How was your week? Where are you plugging in from? Sending you lots of silence and slowness wherever you are!

Last week, I held my weekly writing space! This one was extra special because instead of friends, I was joined by some people from a community group that I am a part of.

I didn’t know these people so I was a bit nervous. However, the excitement of meeting and interacting with new people calmed me down and the space was beautiful! I got really good feedback and after the call, I did my usual happy dance :)

So, here’s the exciting news! I am holding a space this weekend. Saturday, 11 am.

It’s free but you have to pay with your attention, curiosity and feedback :)

Hope to see some of you there. If time doesn’t permit or if there are commitments already, don’t worry I will be doing this EVERY WEEK! (I promise)

As a feature of all my newsletters, I will be sharing one song, one book, one plant-based meal, one YouTube video that inspired me, and some photographic updates from my life.

• I am reading 'Quiet' by Susan Cain. ( A must-read for all introverts)

  This book feels like a breath of fresh air. I wish I had read this 20 years back when I was in school. Have you read it?

• I made oats chilla + tomato peanut chutney. It was YUM!

• I watched this TED Talk by Surabhi Yadav
  Surabhi is the founder of Woman at Leisure one of my favourite pages on Instagram. It masks as a photojournalistic photo essay page but deep inside, it is a radical feminist movement spearheaded by Surabhi and the contributors.
  Depressing to call it radical, but times are such; leisure has become quite a privilege for women.

  Surabhi also runs Sajhe Sapne which trains young rural women with employable skills for free. She’s an inspiring woman and I feel honoured to have met her few weeks back.

• I am hooked to Koi Nahi by Taha G this week. Taha G is a very talented artist from Pakistan. His other songs are amazing too.

• Lastly, here’s a photograph I took of the sunset from my evening walk while I was enjoying my slow time.

Thank you for your time!
If you like what I share, do share it with your friends and family.

How was your week? Any plans for Eid?
Have a lovely week ahead :)