Italy marked Slow Living Day on Monday with free Tai Chi and yoga classes across the country, poetry competitions, free transport and by generally encouraging people to slow down. In Rome, Milan and Genoa “slow wardens” issued mock fines to people who were walking too fast. There must have been some rather bemused tourists in these cities on Monday.
The Sicilian town of Caltanissetta surpassed itself, offering free public transport for “slow” day – not, perhaps, a good advertisement for its bus services – and issuing citizens with free copies of the “14 commandments” – sorry, “slowmandments” – of the Association for Slow Living, L’arte del vivere lentamente. The “slowmandments” [taken from the Association’s website] are:
1. Wake up five minutes earlier than usual so you have time to shave, do your make up or have breakfast without hurrying.
2. While queuing at the supermarket or in traffic relax, don’t get angry and try to use your time for planning your day or talking to your neighbour in the line.
3. When you enter a café, make a habit of saying hello to the waiter before ordering and after enjoying your coffee remember to say goodbye. (This rule works for all stores, offices and in the elevator!)
4. Write your text messages on your cell phone with no symbols or abbreviations and get in the habit of starting with “Dear…” .
5. When possible, don’t do two things at the same time (for example don’t write while speaking on the phone). You run the risk of becoming impolite and imprecise.
6. Don’t join and don’t let your children join any teams or activities that are far from home.
7. Avoid being so busy and full of work that you don’t have time for yourself and the delight of thinking about nothing.
8. Don’t force yourself to go shopping; most probably there is enough food in your cupboard to make something tasty for dinner.
9. Sometimes go to the corner shop even to buy what you need, even if it’s not cheap; this will save you time and stress.
10. Go for a walk, alone or in company, to a local restaurant rather than driving and waiting in traffic to get to your customary eatery across town.
11. In the evening turn off the television and read the newspaper.
12. At the weekends don’t always leave town. Learn to enjoy your own city, wherever it is.
13. If you have a two-week break from work, spend ten days on holiday and the remaining days relaxing before and after your trip.
14. Stop saying: “I don’t have time to…” – these words won’t make you appear more important than you are and will only cause you stress.
The Association is the brainchild of Bruno Cortigiani, now 62, who organised the first “World Slow Day” in 2007 because he wants us to “think about the things we miss out on while we are rushing through our lives”. World Slow Day is now marked in eleven countries. The Slow Food Movement supports the day.
Which of the “slowmandments” could you obey easily? Which ones would be difficult for you?
