The art of slow living- Creating An "E" Ticket Life

Do you remember when Disneyland had tickets for rides? Not all day passes like today, but tickets with Letters A-E; denominations for varying levels of ride excitement.

Riding on the Carousel for an “A” ticket was lower than say, riding the Submarine Voyage (one of my favorites!).

An “E” ticket ride meant it was a really, super, amazingly, awesome ride.

Too often we let life relegate us to the lower class rides. The ones we get a bit queasy on, like bill paying or an unpaid furlough. A broken relationship or disappointment in circumstance.

Going nowhere in a hurry, when we have big plans.

We sometimes feel like our ticket book has only “A” tickets left, and we face the unending circular motion of the Carousel.

Why is slow living important?

What a drag. Unless…we remember something important. When we were kids, we loved going in circles. We knew that fun was to be had in the routine, simple, monotony of a pattern.

When we are on that ride, going round and round, it can feel pretty fun if we let it.

If life was all like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, we’d be bruised and confused. Fast and jerky movements, being thrown around the car, and things coming at you constantly aren’t exactly conducive to a peaceful existence.

While fun in the moment, that kind of excitement isn’t sustainable.

Or, perhaps, even desirable.

“…to be slow means that you govern the rhythms of your life. You are in control of deciding how fast you have to go.”- Carlo Petrini

I want to see life a little more like a child would.

That thrill of anticipation, the nervous energy of takeoff, and the delight with the circles we ride.

Slow living means we look for joy in small things

An “E” ticket kind of life is what we are after. It includes all rides; exciting, thrilling, and yes, even monotonous.

For the greatest joys are to be had in living fully. Experiencing the whole gamut of ups and downs. Dips and turns. We want it all.

Those boring rides? Throw your head back in the wind and smile for the lack of speed and excitement.

Look for the moments of wonder in the slow lane.

“Slow living is a curious mix of being prepared and being prepared to let go. Caring more and caring less. Saying yes and saying no. Being present and walking away. Doing the important things and forgetting those that aren’t.” – Brooke McAlary, SLOW