Not so long ago, people lived in big families. Children grew up knowing their cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and other relatives. These children felt connected.
At that time, people were connected to their food. Most people grew their own vegetables and fruit. Many families had a house cow for milk, cheese, butter and cream. Most families also had meat animals. When visitors came unexpectedly, dad would be sent to kill the chook (鸡) for dinner. Everyone helped with cooking and mealtimes were a social event. When the meal ended, most of the families cleaned up and washed up together. But how different is the situation today?
The fast life is all around us—fast food, fast cars, fast conversations, fast families, fast holidays. Our fast-paced life has weakened these connections. We have been fooled into thinking we need to, or even must, be fast and have what the "fast life" gives us. Stress is leading to many new health problems.
The way to solve the problem is the Slow Movement. It aims to deal with the problem of "time poverty (缺乏)" through making connections. It supports a growing cultural change towards slowing down. It has spread to more than sixty countries and become a worldwide movement.
The Slow Movement tells us that we need to slow down and connect with our life. We need connection to people—ourselves, our family, our community, our friends—to food, to place (where we live), and to life.
By being part of the Slow Movement, many people have known how they lost connection to most sides of their lives and to the natural world and rhythms (节奏) around them. And more importantly, they have reconnected—they have lived a new connected lifestyle.
