#1. Slow

I am tired of going fast.

Sluggish. Loitering.

Fast learner. Quick thinker.

When trying to summarize what I wanted to explore about slow clothes, I was searching for synonyms but what I found was off-putting associations.

Ponderous. Lackadaisical.

Multitasker. Go getter.

These definitions had the same appeal of a half-squashed slug, dragging itself across a country road. My reaction is caught between “eewww” and “who would want to be that?”

Drowsy.

I once had a colleague at a workplace lean across our shared workspace, looking at me with over-exhilarated, espresso spiked eyeballs and proclaim:

“At this company we Bolt.”

Synonym? Hurdle, zoom, dash. Think of steaming steed coming off the race track instead of a half alive, road smashed slug (slowness).

Here is my synonym to fast: sick.

I am tired of going fast. I do not want to be ‘rigorous’ or part of any “fastest growing company” anywhere. I am stepping onto the sidewalk, and will let those who choose to scramble, claw and scrape their knees towards go-getting, multitasking, fast-fast, ever moving goal posts. But this isn’t my journey. It can’t be for my wellbeing.

So here are my synonyms for slow because the people behind the thesaurus didn’t deliver:

Intentional, dedicated, seasonal, meditative, measured and mindful. Slowness isn’t lackadaisical. For me, it means punctual as I am honouring my commitments to myself and others and I am not overscheduling, double booking, and stretching myself too thin. It also doesn’t mean I work less; I think I might need to work more on being intentional, meditative and mindful and not being sucked into Go Fever. I am wired to be a go-getter, as we are all inclined to be, but I am not hardwired. I intend to intentionally rewire my desire to go faster and multitask, have more and do more.

Here is another synonym for slow: less.

I don’t think Less should feel as scary as it instinctually does to me. Less means lighter and brighter.

So begins my trek into a physical manifestation of slow: through my clothes and choosing a meditative and intentional path. The highlight would be meeting the people, places, animals, fabric and fibers that also illuminate the way of slow clothes.

Sew, I knit.