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La Buena Vida-“The Good Life”
That’s what they call it here, and you hear it a lot. But you don’t just hear it. You live it. I haven’t been here very long, but already I am learning to embrace the art of slowing down. I am embracing imperfection, and I am living fully in the moment in a way that I never have.
Oh, yes, at first, I tried my old ways.
Trying to do too much, scheduling too many activities in a day, but then something happened. That something that happened took me by the hand and called to my heart, and said, “Slow down.” “What are you hurrying towards? You are here now. Don’t miss it.” Something about this place brings these qualities out, but I do believe that you can learn to do this anywhere.
Slowing Down
I don’t have a car here, so I walk everywhere. I often rush when I walk, always in a hurry to get to a destination. But here, it is literally impossible. There are cobblestone streets, and they are not smooth cobblestones cemented together, but more like jumping from rock to rock when you are hiking through a creek. When it rains, they are so slippery, that many people fall.
Also, the sidewalks here are very narrow. Two people can’t usually fit on them at the same time. Also, many times telephone poles are placed in the middle that you have to try to squeeze by. I quickly learned that walking fast was not going to get me anywhere here. I would need to slow down, take my time, and take the attitude that, “I will get there when I get there.”
Taking this approach, an amazing thing happened. I started noticing things in a deeper way than I normally do. It’s easy to see the beautiful doorways and the vibrant colors of the walls. But, I started noticing the way the light reflected shone on them. I started seeing the reflections in the rain puddles. I started seeing the yellow birds in the trees, the fat bumblebees buzzing through the flowers, the hummingbirds flitting around.
I started talking with the old man who sits on the sidewalk every morning and got invited into the lonely woman’s house who showed me her empty refrigerator. I started bringing things to them. I sprayed the man with patchouli lavender spray to brighten his day. I gave the woman money so she could buy some tortillas. I looked at her art. I squeezed her hand. This place has warmed my heart in a way I don’t think it would have if I didn’t learn the art of slowing down.
I now live in a kitchen without a food processor or a dishwasher, and so I chop the tomatoes, the serrano, the cilantro, and onion by hand while the dark green poblano peppers crackle over the fire of the stove top. I do things more consciously. I enjoy my food even more than I used to.
I found the tortillas by surprise, the ones I bought from the woman who was making them in her doorway. Ten pesos seemed like such a small price to pay as I put them in her gnarled wrinkled hands. I can’t taste one without thinking of the hard work she put into making them, so that they could be a part of my meal. The sun has usually set by the time I do the dishes, and having no light in my outdoor kitchen, I do them in darkness.
I feel the beauty of each hand-formed dish. I laugh as I remember my mother used to tell me do pretend I was blind when I did the dishes. That they were only clean when you ran your hands along them, and felt no grease. Now I get to put that into practice.
I slow down when, even though I have work to do, I decide to sit on the warm bricks of my rooftop and let the sun hit my face for a while before I get to work. And, it is then, I feel the creativity come and give me inspiration to write the words I need to. I wondered what I would have written had I not taken this time for slowing down, for stillness, for enjoying this moment.
How You Can Slow Down Anywhere
Yes, you can give yourself time for slowing down anywhere, and I hope that, wherever you are, that you do. In America, I felt like I was in a microwaved society where even friends couldn’t enjoy a dinner with me without being on their phones, answering text messages, emails, and thinking of where they were going to be next.
You may think that where you live that you can’t slow down, but it is your life, and you are the one who creates it. Decide when you are with another person that there is nothing more important, and put your phone away.
Walk to the store instead of driving. Ask your boss if you can work different hours, so that you don’t have to be stuck in rush hour traffic. Set aside entire days where you won’t check your email. (Seriously, the world won’t end). Don’t pack every second of your schedule with things to do. This will give you time to be spontaneous. Being able to be spontaneous is the best thing for making yourself not feel like you are stuck in a rut.
If you want your life to feel exciting, it’s not about always having a form of entertainment. It’s about being, just being. Stick around for long enough in the moment and, trust me, things will start happening. Amazing things like women cooking tortillas in doorways, or an interesting person that you will start talking to as you walk down the street, or the most beautiful flower that you’ve ever seen will appear out of nowhere.
I think you will find that by slowing down, your life becomes richer and more meaningful. You will get full enjoyment from each thing that you do much as when you taste a meal and truly savor it, you taste all the spices and flavors in that dish. When you gulp a meal down without truly tasting it, you are bound to feel unsatisfied after that meal. Such as in life.
Slow down. Life is short enough. Why rush it?
Stay tuned for my upcoming articles on how I’m learning to live the good life!! Next up: “Embracing Imperfection.”
How do you find ways to slow down? Comment below and let me know!!
By the way, if you are moving to Mexico, I highly recommend the book, “Mexico: The Trick Is Living Here.” It’s filled with invaluable information about everything you need to know concerning your move to Mexico!
We are thinking about heading down to mexico over winter. That salsa looks amazing. I want to eat salsa, tortillas, avocados, and beans everyday!!
Yes, the food is amazing here!! And everything is so fresh…I am loving it…
Slowness and mindfulness are life changing, if challenging, things to include in every day! I am thrilled to read that you have found a place where you are so naturally and perpetually experiencing this frame of mind! Your tomato & cilantro salad looks divine!
We do miss so much by not enjoying the moment that is why I don’t text, I want to enjoy those I am with and when in a store if someone calls I get off when it is time to talk to the cashier, if she is going to wait on me the least I can do is smile and greet them and wish them a good day. Love you article and hearing what you are learning! Beautiful pictures so colorful!
You always gave your full attention to me when I came home from school and told you my many stories, too!! Love you, mom!!
Live in the moment and it will Live in you:)
So true, Stephanie!!
i love that, washing in the dark. i think we all need to read this article – and then not just move on, but think and implement. thanks for the beautiful words!
Thank you, Jessie!!
Lovely post. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently- slowing down… Also, learning how to say “no,” and not biting off more than I can chew!
I am drooling over your salsa, Val!
When I moved to Spain, I had no car, zero appliances, no heat or air, no bike. It’s amazing how you learn to slow down, to walk on the other side of the road and marvel at something you’d not seen before, to talk to people on the street. Sounds like a lovely change!
Very inspiring. And what beautiful photos!
Excellent observations. It’s amazing what you notice when you slow down, like the shape of the dishes when you wash them in the dark. No wonder you’re smiling in the final picture!
I’m kind of jealous right now. When I travel I like doing it a slow pace, it’s the best way for me to embrace the place I visit. The last two weeks though have been too fast, we went for one place to the other so quickly that I felt more like a tourist than a traveler.
I agree!! And to me, travel is no fun when you start feeling like a tourist!
I dont know why it’s so hard to slow down when traveling. I forcefully had to learn that after starting to travel with kids. They simply need to have it nice and easy and super slow. And actually, it’s become way way more fun. And on top of that, we are doing things that I would never do if I was traveling without them.
Such wonderful words of inspiration, Val. We should all try to slow down and admire the amazing world around us, I know I am going to do my best to try to slow down. Thank you for such an enlightening post!
A thoughtful post! We chose San Miguel de Allende six years ago for its combination of climate, culture and the basic warmth of its people. I became interested in the process of becoming an expat and wrote a book based on conversations with 32 Americans and Canadians who had also made the move. It’s mainly a way of getting inside their heads. Whether you’re thinking of settling on the beach, or in one of the colonial cities of the interior, you need to listen to this conversation. It’s called San Miguel de Allende: A Place in the Heart, and there is no other book like it. Here’s a link to an excerpt on my website:
www.sanmiguelallendebooks.com/aplaceintheheart.html
Your insight to a “Microwave Society” reminds me to slow down and enjoy each moment! When I walk, I try to find something to “see” that I might have missed if I hurried along… like a flower, a squirrel carrying a walnut, a cloud… a person walking aimlessly… I cringe when I see people with their electronics that are tuned out to those they are with! I hope you find peace and joy in Costa Rica. It is beautiful there! The black monkeys are fun to watch!
Aunt Lucy
I love that, Aunt Lucy. I always felt that you have a deeper awareness for the present moment whenever I’m around you. Hopefully, you guys can come visit me in CR. I love it there, too! Did the trip before I was blogging. Can’t wait to go back and get some great photos!!