Christine Louise Hohlbaum
Being busy is so yesterday! Slowing down life is the hot new trend. Here’s my interview with Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of the new book, “The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World”:
Jennifer Haupt: When and why did you start thinking about slowing down your own life?
Christine Louise Hohlbaum: When my daughter was three, we were at an ice cream parlor and she couldn’t decide what she wanted. I tapped my toe. impatiently wishing to rush to the next thing. Then I realized there was no important “next thing.” We walked outside to a brilliant, bright blue sky, sat down on a bench, enjoyed the scenery, then slowly walked back to the car. I realized in that moment that “slow” meant being mindful and present to the gifts we have so they don’t slip by.
JH: How did writing this book help you to slow down even more?
CLH: I realized I had to walk my talk or the whole thing would be a farce. So whenever I felt tempted to engage in “clock combat” (racing against the clock to my imaginary finish line), I took a deep breath, scaled back my efforts for a moment, and took a look at what was most important. I then expressed gratitude for the experience so that I would remain compassionate and close to those who struggle with the very same thing.
JH: You say “busy” is the new “fine” — what does that mean?
CLH: It’s become something of a status symbol to declare how busy you are. The busier you are the more successful you seem to be. “Fine” used to be a standard response when some asked how you are Now it has been replaced with “I am just so busy!”
JH: What exactly is the power of slowing down your life?
CLH: It’s about harnessing the power within and allowing it to unfurl. We waste so much time fretting about things we can’t change. The Power of Slow looks at what you can change to make all the difference in your life and in those of others.
JH: What does going slower have to do with finding faith in everyday life?
CLH: When you refrain from clock combat and instead embrace an abundant attitude about the time you have, you can more easily discern what is truly important to you.
It’s not about time management because management implies some level of control. It is about controlling the things you do within the time that you do have. It takes great faith to bust the myth of concepts such as ‘time is money’ or ‘time is a-wasting’ that are so ingrained in our thinking. Disengaging from these precepts will set you free.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is so right on! We’ve tried slowing our lives by living a simpler life. Right now, though, our efforts are met with resistance from the challenges of the economy. Still, we’re determined to get there!
Can’t wait to slow down and read the book, BTW, great interview!
Sounds like a great book. Slowing down is so hard to do.
I love it — busy is the new fine. Infinitely quotable.
In the innkeeping industry, when your B&B is located on Cape Cod, the ultimate answer, in summer, to “how are you?” is BUSY. It just flows from my mouth without thinking. Slowing down is really important for the soul. Thanks for this reminder. I’m glad we get some downtime in winter.
Thanks for this interview; another reminder to slow down. One problemI have is overestimating all I can cram into a day. I never have enough time to tackle it all, therefore, I rush through so many things, never taking the time to really enjoy fully. “Busy is the new fine” is a great line!
there’s also the question people often ask — are you keeping busy? as though that’s a good thing. thanks for asking these questions Jen, and sharing the answers.
I agree that slowing down is important, but as a freelance writer, time really IS money! I frequently race against the clock to get everything done and earn enough money to feel stable and secure during slower periods. But of course I know I could implement some of these suggestions in my personal life when I’m not working!
I know this resonates with a lot of us. The mind starts racing and you believe you actually have to race along with it. Who’s in control here, anyway? I’ve always thought “Stop and smell the roses” is a great motto–even though I’m guilty of rarely doing it.
As a native New Yorker, I definitely appreciate the power of slowing down and embracing simplicity. I lived in Vermont for five years and every time I would get down to the metropolitan NY/NJ lines, I could feel my hostility returning! Living in an aggressive environment can really take a toll…and slowing down your life to smell the roses just feels good!
Having a major illness that enforces “slow” I can attest to there being good there. I also moved to New Zealand to help me find a bit of slow. Living here is at a different pace and a common saying is “she’ll be right.” Meaning whatever it is will turn out OK in time.
I’ve been gestating (I’m at the end of my pregnancy) which is making me go slower. And I am so happy to be slow these days. It’s the opposite of how I grew up (and of my personality I fear) but it makes life so much richer and more colorful. Thanks for the great interview!
I’ve been trying to do this more and more lately–being in control of how I spend my time. I’m always aware that it’s my choice–no one is forcing me to do what I do with my time. And that helps. Of course, every once in a while, I do tap my foot (among other type A behaviors), but I’m still in recovery.
I remember being in Paris and asking the restaurant waiter if I could get my food to go. He looked at me like I was crazy. Can’t you sit down to eat? It dawned on me.. we really never just stop and take time for ourselves–even when it’s necessary.
I like what Christine says up front about walking the talk. I have to remember this with my BIKE work. Although it’s more a mental thing than a physical act, the physical act of riding a bike and what happens to you while you’re doing it is equally important to the message I share. It’s about being mindful. It’s so easy for us to get lost in our busy worlds and what we think we’re supposed to doing in it. Taking the time to appreciate what is NOW can be so much more effective, and you do have to slow down for that.