Slow is space
experience the spaciousness of SLOW with a small shift in attention
As humans, we often wish to slow down or have things slow down around us.
This desire emerges from separation within ourselves… when we’re pulled too far away from our inner well of resource and our connection to the whole.
One morsel to remember is this: slowness is space (not time).
You won’t find slowness with attention to linear time. You’ll only find yourself wanting more slowness (that’s just out of reach).
Instead, when you feel scattered or rushed or tugged too tight, try this:
Return to your breath and your hum (Small-Slow-Hum)
Visualize the moment as a framed space that you are inside (like a room or a field)
Feel into the fullness of this space, notice the details, listen to what’s said and unsaid, sense the connection between you and everything.
This doesn’t need to last long (it’s not about time, remember).
You create the feeling of spaciousness (which often gets named as slowness) through your attention to the fullness inside a moment.
*
love, Melissa
Related posts: Invite less; Embrace blur; Allow nothing
Additional Resources:
Slowness opens (essay + resources)
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Baily (one of my favorite books)
The Snail with the Right Heart by Maria Popova, illustrated by Ping Zhu (picture book)
Here and Now by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale (picture book)
The Slowdown with Maggie Smith (podcast)
Slow Stories with Rachel Schwartzmann (Substack + podcast)
Slow Down by Scott Orr (song)
Button Snail Hum is a pollination project of Noticing Matters.
Learn more and connect with me: melissaabutler.com | melissa@melissaabutler.com
