Slowing Down

1/26/2024 (Originally written in my journal)

As I'm sitting outside in the hot Spanish sun, I'm thinking to myself, "How did I get so lucky?" A friend writing with me by my side, the mountains lined with olive trees in front of me, and the sound of birds playing in the orange trees above me are all I need. Although, my iced coffee and phone playing Jack Johnson radio sure are nice additions.

The past 18 years of my life have been defined by assignments, gigs, soccer games, and task after task. To now be in a place where I determine my schedule and how I spend my time is both a privilege and an extremely difficult adjustment for me. When I was busy 24/7, all I wanted to do was relax. Now that I can relax every day, I want to be busy. What's that about?!

I've noticed that Spanish people really enjoy the slow life (at least in Jaén where I live and Villanueva del Arzobispo where I work). Businesses don't open until around 9 AM. What's the rush? 1:30 PM rolls around and it's nap time... until 5:30 PM. Siesta and lunch time are so important to everyone here. For me, it feels like I'm wasting time, but maybe I'm the one doing things all wrong. Maybe instead of everyone else getting to work early and working until they're exhausted at the end of the day, I need to learn to take my time, enjoy myself and everything around me, and not worry about "wasting" this beautiful time called life.

One of my first weeks in Jaén, a teacher at my school and I were talking in the car on the way home. His English and my Spanish levels are almost equal, so we speak Spanglish to each other in hopes that we'll both improve our second languages. He asked me what peoples' work schedules are like where I'm from. I explained to him that some people work from 8 to 4, some 9 to 5, and some in between or outside of these time frames depending on their jobs. He then asked me a follow-up question that I think about often: "So, if people work all day and into the evening, when do they do their hobbies, make dinner, and spend time with their loved ones?" "Hm...good question. On the weekends, I guess," I replied, to which he said, "But that's only two days...". Okay yeah what the heck is wrong here. "That's just the way it is," I said. But why does it have to be?

I think a lot of people go their whole lives wishing they had more time for their hobbies, loved ones, and healthy habits. These often times aren't accomplished until retirement, but why not? Shouldn't everyone be entitled to these things while they're young too? This is not to say that some people haven't figured out this balance (if you're one of the people that have, please call me so we can chat).

I'm making it my goal for the next five months to fully pour myself into the slow life- to do things I love like play soccer, read, take pictures of everything, sing my heart out at a karaoke bar with friends, cook yummy food, etc. I'm making it an even longer-term goal to bring this life style home with me. Despite the stressors of school, work, and life to come, I will always make my happiness and peace a top priority. And if I crack the code to this magical balance in life, you'll be the first to know it.

Thank you for reading :) Until next time!

Nicole