#slowing-down — Public Fediverse posts

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

Slowing down, elsewhere. Backdoor, meadows, creek and listening to the world in between the hills. Time moved on, yet grateful for everything that remained unchanged out here. Reaching for this nights stories, eyes in the sky and waiting for stars and constellations to grant a sense of location and direction at larger scale. Thinking, overthinking, at the same time feeling bad for wasting brain cycles on pointless mental endeavours. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #what the hours left behind

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Late hours once more. The silent world unfolding below. The silent sky spreading across houses parks rivers, just like it always did. Resting in that moment to consciously feel like a small part of all that, waiting for thoughts to settle. Not yet ready for the night. Sleep well everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening deviations #slowing down #stories of hours in between and left and right

(Abendküche, unsicherer Griff, heißes Wasser, das über Haut und Arbeitsflächen gen Boden fließt. Schmerzende Hände. Den Schreck nicht unterdrückt, den Ärger irgendwie schon. Und dann kurz unter dem Himmel der Höfe, zwischen Wänden und Bäumen. Mülltonnen klappern und quietschen, leere Kisten stapeln sich, eine Stadtkatze verharrt geduckt zwischen den Sträuchern. Etagen weiter oben sind die Türen geöffnet. Hier duftet der Flur nach Gebäck und Waschnüssen, Kinder lachen. Nochmal Tee, noch eine Kerze. Und tief durchatmen.)

#outerworld #concrete city #sunday evening #slowing down

Very much later. A brief moment of serenity. That spot of quietness within, watching thoughts spiral at high speed and feeling unable to identify particular details. Cat on the windowsill, dark silhouette against the outside world, static and indifferent. There's some party going on at the pub, coloured lights dancing along the street included, a bowl housing shivering flames, a worn-down brushed carpet. No celebrities, just that familiar crowd and the evening it decided to bring. Distant observer, stories shaping themselves. Have a soft night everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #the late hours #slowing down

Wasser in den Haaren, auf der Haut. Kunstregen, zu heiß, zu kalt, zu nass und unerwartet störend. Mehrere schwer beschriebene Momente verstreichen, bis vorsichtige Entspannung einsetzt. Watte zwischen Sinnen und Umwelt. Immer noch Navigation entlang des Planes. Das Viertel hinter den Wänden schweigt.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day #slowing down

Man shares his 3-part 'perfect night' and its simplicity is awe-inspiring

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/nolan-reid-shares-simple-pleasures

Later again. Still, practising the art of disconnection, for the evening. And still struggling. Whirling thoughts, around many different fixed centers, somehow trying to stay clear of all of them to not be pulled away and taken in. The houses across the street are dark again, a few candles just behind a few windows and tip of a cigarette on a balcony, distant scent of its smoke but maybe just an imagination below starless clouds. Have a soft night wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #slowing down #stories of late light and late minds

Much later, and again in that familiar place, position: Backdoor, ash tree, gazing out into the dark that keeps the meadows covered. Random noises hint for small creatures making their way through the bushes and into temporary attention. Somewhere up there behind the houses, cars are speeding down the bypass street, taking a sharp turn, roaring engines, to disappear heading for the highway. Insects circling that dim lamp, then and now hitting its surface. Across the road, windowblings are being shut. Getting ready for the night, retreated to the inside. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #where the day went

Later again. Hands wet and shaky, debugging other machines and the intimidating reality of black boxes. Sceptically watching, while the backyards gradually give up on today and get ready for sleep, yawning again, yawning still. Imagining topics for celestial conversations, waiting for shooting stars and a waning moon and that's about enough before waking to a new dawn. Sleep tight once you're willing to, wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening hours #slowing down

Recently, I discovered the calming effect of putting my browser into full-screen mode when reading a blog post. No task bar tempting me to jump to another window. No tabs tempting me to switch to another page. Just me and the post. 😌

#Wellbeing #SlowingDown #SmolWeb #IndieWeb #Minimalism

Almost 4pm again. Talking epsilon environments, floating objectives and hidden pareto efficiencies. Topics too huge and demanding to really embrace, by now. Resorting to routine tasks instead: Minutes taken, calendar pruned, window opened wide. There's music but unsure whether emitted by the outer world or some hidden tab and maybe that's not even relevant now.

#outerworld #concrete city #home office hours #slowing down

11pm, almost. No more challenges to accept today. Some energy left but merely to shut down the evening in an ordered manner. Books closed. Clothes sorted. Dishes shelved. Prepared what the morning needs, again: Knife, board, mug, bread. Rituals day in day out. Ready for stars in an open sky. Have a quiet night wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day later that night #slowing down #half awake half asleep

Over the last few months, I have filtered out most USA news, so I have basically a minimal knowledge of what is happening in that part of the world. To be honest, it's great! The same goes for tech, I work long 12-hour days and weekends as a sysadmin, and the last thing I want to see after those days is tech stuff. So, I read tech news through newsletters sent to an email address I only use for that purpose.

It’s making my life more relaxed not to care about what is happening on other continents, etc. This way, I can enjoy more fun things, like working on my bike, swimming, and going to the cinema.

I think slowing down is good. Enjoy your morning coffee.
:cupoftea:

#FilteredNews
#RelaxedLife
#WorkLifeBalance
#TechNews
#SysadminLife
#EnjoyingLife
#SlowingDown

Apparently, even real estate news has a sense of humor: 🏢🎉 "Record new apartments," they boast, while quietly adding, "but don't get too comfy, we’re slowing down." Meanwhile, your browser is stuck doing the JavaScript and cookie tango to even read this page. 🍪💃
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/02/the-number-of-new-apartments-is-at-a-50-year-high-but-states-expect-a-slowdown/ #realestatehumor #newapartments #slowingdown #JavaScriptbrowser #cookieissues #HackerNews #ngated

(Ladespannung erreicht, grüne Leuchtpunkte im Heimbüro. Uplink nach Irgendwo, immer wieder Gedanken daran ausblendend, wo die anderen Enden der Verbindungen stehen. Pappeln wie ein Scherenschnitt vor der ausklingenden Dämmerung, reglos und bis in die Untiefen des nervösen Selbst beruhigend. Haustüren schlagen, in Wohnungen werden Esstische gedeckt, Flaschen geöffnet. Der Abend verabscheut leere Gläser.)

#outerworld #later that day #concrete city #slowing down

Und Dorfabend. Irgendwie fanden die Stunden ihren Weg, ihre Strecke, blieb Stadt zurück und der Duft nächtlichen Frühlings über den Hügeln ein dominierender Eindruck. Immer wieder Verweilen an der Hintertür, Lauschen ins grünende undurchsichtige Nichts, in dem der Bach talwärts rauscht und die kleinen und größeren Tiere sich vorsichtig aus ihren Quartieren wagen. Durchatmen, ein Husten unterdrücken, um den Moment nicht zu stören. Und das Glas leeren auf dem Weg in den heutigen Schlaf. Have a pleasant night wherever you are!

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #the spring in things

Personally, I think that part of #Degrowth involves #SlowingDown. Less cars, more pedestrians and bicycles, and if cars are involved, SLOW DOWN!

#Wales - First #20mph year sees 100 fewer killed or badly hurt

David Deans, January 31, 2025

"The first year of a controversial Welsh speed limit saw around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads, ministers have said.

"New casualty data for the first year of the 20mph limit was welcomed by the Welsh government, while the Labour politician who spearheaded the policy said it showed it was 'the most successful road safety intervention in modern times'.

"The figures showed the number of people hurt fell by 28% compared with the same period the year before, with ten fewer dead.

"The number of casualties on 20 to 30mph roads between July and September 2024 was also the lowest for the three month-period since records began in 1979.

"Amid longstanding rows over the speed limit within his own party, former transport minister Lee Waters urged others not to undermine the scheme."

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78w1891z03o
#LivableCommunities #SpeedLimits #SolarPunkSunday #LessCars #MoreBicicyles #MorePedestrians #LessRoadkill

"But it also comes down to being able to enjoy our lives in really simple ways. To really do that, we need to slow down. One activity that absolutely requires slowing down is cooking food from scratch (and cleaning up the kitchen afterwards). —Lily Sánchez for Current Affairs

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2022/11/on-slowing-down-to-cook#fn2-24494

#Longreads #EditorsPicks #Food #HomeMade #Cooking #SlowingDown

Ich habe es inzwischen wirklich getan 😎: Seit Anfang April habe ich unterwegs die mobile Datenverbindung am Handy fast durchgehend aus (nur für Bustickets, Fahrplan etc. ist sie, wenn überhaupt, mal kurz aktiviert). Stattdessen habe ich jetzt noch mehr (fast) analoges Leben dabei:

Ein Notizbuch und (manchmal) dazu ein Terminkalender und der schlanke, aber sehr stabile Füller (ein günstiger Hongdian Black Forest mit schmaler Feder) ersetzen mir sämtliche vorher benutztze Apps. Und schnelle Schnappschüsse, für die ich draußen sonst die #OpenCamera App benutzt habe, mache ich jetzt wieder konsequent mit der mittlerweile um die 20 Jahre alten Kodak V570 - die macht immer noch brauchbare Schnappschüsse, auch, wenn sie sehr lichthungrig ist (sie neigt bei über ISO 100 gerne zum Rauschen). Einen mit der V570 gemachten Schnappi seht Ihr auf dem zweiten Bild:

Ich werde erstmal bei dieser Kombi bleiben. Offline ist es draußen viel entspannter. Ich muss auch nicht immer alles sofort wissen... :smile:

Schönen #StillerSonntag noch. 👋👋

#Back2Base #Entschleunigung #Einfachheit #SlowingDown #Fountainpen #notebook #AnalogueLife #fountainpenlover #KodakV570 #CompactCamera #OldCamera #Stille #wenigeristmehr #lebensstil #Gelassenheit