slow living has to be earned.

it's a term you see everywhere - used to describe a certain aesthetic, and it pretty much describes my personal brand - at least the moments i share on instagram. but there's no universal definition and i think that's the point. it means something different to everyone.

for me it's a state of mind.

there's no way for me to enjoy a quiet moment when there's noise in the back of my head telling me i should be doing something else. the guilt of putting things off compounds quietly. and then one day you look back and feel it all at once.

if those things aren't done, the mind can't switch off. at least mine can't.

on the other hand, doing the things you should be doing - or at least most of them - sets the foundation for a peaceful state of mind. being able to enjoy simple moments, appreciate small things and invest your energy into something like reading or writing or whatever you're passionate about.

but to be honest: slow living is basically the exact opposite of how i spend most of my time. between uni, work, hyrox or ironman prep and social life there's barely space for reading, writing or working on my personal brand. but because that time is limited, i value it more than i probably would if i had it in abundance.

i always felt better being stretched during the day and then coming back satisfied, rather than being bored and restless. only you are responsible for how you manage your time - and i know my week could look considerably calmer. but this is something i've always gravitated toward.

i've been lucky enough to meet people who've shown me how much you can get out of your everyday life when you approach it with intention. linus just completed his first ironman - and because of him, i signed up for mine in vichy next year. something that wouldn't have happened without having him close. then there's jack, who doesn't need to say much. just watching him quietly pushes me to not slow down. he has a way of asking the right questions so that you come up with the answer yourself. it always seems simple. it mostly is.

when you look back at the end of a week where you've reached the goals you set for yourself, you've earned the right to sit in a café and journal, to read, to spend time with friends, or go to a museum.

all of that is slow living. and all of it has to be earned.