The World Is Too Much With Us

“Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours;”

(from “The World Is Too Much With Us” by William Wordsworth)

You’ve heard of fast food. But have you heard of slow food? If you haven’t, here we go.

The Slow Food movement kicked off in 1986 when Carlo Petrini and a group of Italian food lovers got fed up with fast food chains popping up in Rome. They saw these restaurants as a threat to local food traditions and decided to fight back. Their weapon of choice? A big plate of pasta and a glass of wine. They organised a protest where people savoured traditional dishes instead of gulping down burgers. This tasty rebellion caught on, and soon the Slow Food movement was born.

Soon, Slow Food grew from a small Italian group to a global phenomenon. It spread its roots across continents, attracting food enthusiasts, farmers, and chefs who shared a passion for good, clean, and fair food. The movement evolved beyond just opposing fast food. It became a champion for biodiversity, supporting local producers, and preserving food traditions that were at risk of disappearing. Slow Food started organising food festivals, setting up local chapters called “convivia”, and even creating a university dedicated to gastronomic sciences.

Even though the Slow Food movement has faced criticism on various fronts, primarily regarding its perceived elitism and practicality, in today’s world of quick fixes and instant gratification, it stays suitably relevant, at least for those who can afford it.

From the seeds planted by Slow Food sprouted another idea—the Slow Movement. In a nutshell, it’s like Slow Food’s ideas decided to take a leisurely stroll into other areas of life. This broader movement challenges the “hurry up” culture that’s taken over much of the world. It’s not about doing everything at a snail’s pace, but rather finding the right speed for each activity.

Then there is Slow Living, which is the day-to-day practice of the Slow Movement’s ideas. It is about, well, to put it a tad lyrically, putting the brakes on the rat race and smelling the roses along the way. People who embrace Slow Living try to be more mindful in their daily activities. They might choose to walk or cycle instead of driving, grow their own vegetables or spend more time cooking meals from scratch. It’s not about tossing your smartphone in the river, but rather using technology mindfully and making time for face-to-face connections.

At its core, Slow Living is about quality over quantity. It’s the idea that less can indeed be more. This philosophy touches on all aspects of life—work, leisure, relationships, and even how we design our cities. Slow cities, or “Cittaslow”, focus on improving life quality by reducing noise and traffic, increasing green spaces, and supporting local businesses and traditions.

One might say the Slow Movement and Slow Living are just passing fads. In a world where burnout is becoming all too common, these ideas offer a different path. They remind us that, as the cliche goes, life isn’t a race to be won, but a journey to be savoured. By encouraging us to slow down and live more intentionally, these movements, despite their inherent utopianism, are helping people find balance in an often chaotic world. As William Wordsworth puts it, the world is too much with us, and it’s time we took a break from it.

It makes economic sense too.

In our modern world, the phrase “time is money” may have become a mantra. But our obsession with speed and efficiency is actually costing us more than we realise. Recent studies paint a sobering picture of the true price we’re paying for our fast-paced lifestyles. The relentless pace of modern life is taking a significant toll on mental health. According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion each year in lost productivity. Stress, often a byproduct of our fast-paced lives, comes with a hefty price tag. The American Institute of Stress reports that job stress costs US industries more than $300 billion annually in absenteeism, turnover, diminished productivity, and medical, legal, and insurance costs.

Our hurried lifestyles are also impacting our physical health. In 2016, a joint study by the WHO and the International Labour Organization linked long working hours to 7,45,000 deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease. It was a 29 per cent increase over the year 2000.

As we move forward, it’s crucial to reconsider our approach to work, life, and productivity. Adopting slower, more sustainable practices could not only improve our well-being but also lead to significant economic benefits. By prioritising mental health, encouraging work-life balance, and adopting more environmentally friendly practices, we have the potential to create a healthier, more productive society. The numbers don’t lie—slowing down might just be the fast track to a better future.

Now that I have told you this, I want you to read this beautiful piece by Tabish Khair, Life is not instant coffee, where he looks at the modern obsession with speed and argues that true fulfilment and effective problem-solving, whether in personal life or global politics, require time and thought, not the rushed approach that dominates our lives today.

Read and write back as always.

Wishing you a lovely unhurried week ahead,

For Frontline,

Jinoy Jose P.

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