Moving slowly, living slowly
Every now and then, you come across a song, a movie or a quote that completely shifts your outlook on life. This piece of work challenges your current way of thinking, stretches your imagination and forces you to consider a different way of being. After this encounter, you’re left with no choice but to change because you realise that staying the same will cost you too much. You have to think different, move different and be different because the shift is THAT seismic that you just can’t unsee it.
I had such an encounter earlier this week when I came across an Instagram post by Lorha Nakambe. Established in 2020, Lorha Nakambe is a feminist consulting practice committed to transforming the funding ecosystem through co-creating social infrastructures that provide resourcing for intersectional feminist movements. My familiarity with the consulting practice is a result of my respect for its founder, Iris Nxumalo-De Smidt – a woman who has been a reference for “Black Girl Magic” since I began following her on the socials during her Oxford days.
Titled, “2024: Our Year of Slow Business”, the post was announcing the how the company was taking a different approach to doing business. My corporate indoctrination quickly led me to think that “slow business” meant a period of lull and less business activity that would result in lower revenue – something that would be a nightmare for any business looking to compete and be profitable in its field. It’s only when I read the caption that I was not only introduced to a new meaning of “slow business”, but where my outlook on how I intend to approach my work, life and everything in between was shifted.
An excerpt from caption reads:
“We're experimenting with the principles of slow business, integrating integrity, authenticity, slow living and mindful practices into our work life to foster a healthier, more sustainable way of operating. We see slow business as a praxis of healing and returning to the practices that make us feel most alive, connected, engaged and committed to transforming our funding ecosystems by transforming the way we work…
…This journey towards slow business isn't just about changing how we work; it's about transforming how we live and connect with each other as well as the kinds of economies we cultivate through our work. It's about quality over quantity, depth over breadth, and mindfulness over busyness.”
Before coming across this, I had not thoroughly thought through how the concept of slow living can be adopted when doing meaningful work. I’ve always thought slow living to be separate from work, that one would have to completely take time off work or even retire early to own their time and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. In my mind, working and living slowly could not co-exist.
What Lorha Nakambe reminded me of is the power of reimagination and redesigning your work according to the rhythm of your life and not the demands of capitalism. This way of doing business calls us to center our humanity by reminding us that we were not designed to live to work but instead to mindfully integrate how we do work into our routines. It reminds us of the power of pause and that our most productive selves actually come from when we are well-rested, energised and inspired. This way of doing business calls us to not only focus on the doing, but to give attention to the being. It’s counter-cultural and it’s just so impactful.
In a world that tries to convince us that we don’t have enough time or that we’re not doing enough, being intentional about moving slowly is one of the most radical things you can do.
