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Pull into the driveway of our home and you’ll be entering a “different world”. Or at least… I hope you do. We embrace slow living in Dallas. When you pull up, if you take time to notice the details, you will take in my cottage garden, full of color and variety and fragrant herbs.
Slow Living in Dallas
When the garage opens, you will notice an insane abundance of bikes and our 1930 Ford Model A.
We embrace the old here.
The dependable.
The simple pace of a life on bikes.
Maybe you’ll notice our push mower.
Yup, many people pass by and ask, or truly declare, “omg, is that a push mower?”
Our yard is covered in many gardens that include vegetables, herbs, flowers of many kinds, David Austin roses, a giant magnolia tree, blooming crepe myrtles and large, mature shade-producing oak trees.
As the Summer progresses, the Lavender grows bigger and taller in this heat and the smell every time we pass by it is absolutely intoxicating.
Living Differently in the Dallas ‘Burbs
Inside our home, you won’t find a TV.
But you will find hundreds upon hundreds of books.
You will also discover a variety of antiques such as an antique pinball machine, antique clocks, fresh flowers in vases, antique tea cups, beer steins, vintage cameras, copper pots and the list goes on and on. (this is our fave antique shop in Plano)
In the kitchen you’ll discover basket of eggs from a local farm, herbs hanging from the cabinet pulls whee they can dry, jars of tinctures and herbs, hand dipped beeswax candles . .
You’ll find us popping into Lavon Farm in Plano for fresh goodies or Reeves Farm in Princeton on the weekends.
While in the laundry room, brown glass spray jars, containers and jars for all my concoctions. White vinegar, Apple Cider vinegar and soap nuts hanging from a cabinet.
Of course you’ll hear music.
Usually classical. I’m a sucker for Mozart, thanks to my flute playing days.
Speaking of music, you’ll also come across a bagpipe.
According to my Dad, I still sound like a dying cow.
In all fairness, he would be right.
But darn’t I love the sound of the bagpipe and I am not giving up on this dream.
Living Differently
We leaned into all the slower, beautiful things when 2020 came around.
Anyone else?
It is a different world.
It’s a world that forgot to celebrate the ordinary.
And a world that is desperate for depths.
Celebrating the ordinary is one of the most liberating things we have done living here in the Dallas ‘burbs.
We always leaned that way but the last 3 years we learned to lean harder.
- Bicycling replaced driving
- Picnics in the park replaced restaurants
- Roasting our own coffee and creating our own in a Bialetti or over fire led to us replacing Starbucks
- Dog walks replaced strolling through NorthPark mall
- Creating our own tinctures, balms and DIY cleaning supplies (and growing the necessary herbs) took a good chunk of enjoyable time.
The moment we cut ourselves off from manicured neighborhoods, attempting to disconnect a bit from pop culture, from the rat race, from what other people expect from us… we became liberated.
We live in a culture that is SO obsessed with perfection.
And all the newest things.
In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing can be more invigorating than going slow
Jump into any local Facebook group or onto NextDoor (brace yourself), and you will find a crowd of people anxiously anticipating what new shops are opening near them OR begging for a Dunkin Donuts to come to the area near them.
The new “Jimmy Johns in Richardson” or the new Tex Mex place in West Plano, the latest grand opening in Legacy West. And here on this blog I’m asked to write about it. Which I graciously say, no thanks and no ma’am. It might be one of the coldest places lacking of heart and soul that I’ve ever visited. And if you feel that in your gut, don’t deny looking elsewhere for entertainment. Once we were honest about the absolute lack of fulfillment from many of the manmade areas around DFW, we felt a certain freedom that is really hard to explain. No longer were we obsessed with being busy and sharing our jam packed schedule with others as if we were after some trophy.
To clarify, there is nothing wrong with going out to a restaurant especially when places like Covino’s (Plano) exists, or R+D or even the Fish Shack when you are craving that gulf coast seafood. It’s just not a hobby for us, it is a rarity. Those choices are very intentional rather than a quick fix to eating food.
We made a clear and intentional decision on how we live
Our family focuses on:
Consuming Mindfully
Driving Mindfully
Intentional Activities
One of the biggest misconceptions about slow living is that it’s lazy. People think that if you’re not constantly rushing around, then you must be wasting your time. But this is not the case.
Slow living in Dallas actually takes more time.
It takes time to be intentional about your choices, to disconnect from technology, to grow a garden, to walk instead of drive, to DIY as much as possible and to connect with nature.
It takes time to cook healthy meals, to spend time with loved ones, and to simply be present in the moment.
So why would we choose to live a slower life if it takes more time?
There are many reasons. For one, slow living can help reduce stress and anxiety. When we’re constantly rushing around, the body is constantly in a state of fight-or-flight mode. This can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even depression. Slow living, on the other hand, can help us relax and de-stress. It can also help improve sleep, overall health, and our sense of well-being.
In addition, slow living can help us connect with ourselves and with others. When we slow down, we have more time to be present in the moment. We can appreciate the beauty of nature, the changing of the seasons here in Texas, the simple pleasures of life, the slower pace allows us to dive deeper into a time-consuming hobby like the bagpipe, embroidery, candle making etc as well as the people who are important to us.
The residents in our neighborhood seem to always be in a rush whether they are retired or working full time. Although life can have its hectic moments and everyone’s situation is different, I have to wonder, what are we racing to??
Here are some additional thoughts on why slow living takes more time:
- It takes time to be intentional about your choices. When you’re constantly rushing around, you’re more likely to make decisions based on convenience or impulse. But when you slow down, you have more time to consider your options and make choices that are right for you. We have become a culture of convenience and what if we chose the ancient paths instead? Maybe the Amish were on to something?
- It takes time to disconnect from technology. Technology can be a major time suck. If you’re constantly checking your phone, email, and social media, you’re not giving yourself the chance to truly relax and be present in the moment.
- It takes time to connect with nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to have many benefits for our physical and mental health. But if you’re always rushing around, you’re not giving yourself the chance to enjoy the outdoors.
- It takes time to cook healthy meals. Eating healthy meals is essential for our health. But if you’re always on the go, you’re more likely to reach for unhealthy convenience foods. When you slow down, you have more time to cook healthy meals that will nourish your body and mind.
- It takes time to spend time with loved ones. Our relationships are one of the most important things in our lives. But if we’re always rushing around, we’re not giving ourselves the chance to connect with the people who are important to us.
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to feel like we’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next. We’re always on the go, always plugged in, and always striving to achieve more. But what if there was a better way to live? What if we could slow down and savor the simple things in life?
This is a decision that you can make at any time. You don’t need to leave on a vacation or buy 20 acres of land. You can start right here in Dallas or McKinney or Wylie or Allen . . . or Plano, like we did.
Slow living is a movement that encourages people to live more deliberately and mindfully. It’s about taking the time to appreciate the little things, to connect with nature, and to simply be.
No rushing to the newest arcade, latest sporting event or restaurant opening.
Of course, you absolutely could BUT what if, we just decided not to?
There are many benefits to slow living. For one, it can help us to reduce stress and anxiety. When we’re constantly rushing around, our bodies are constantly in a state of fight-or-flight mode. This can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even depression. Slow living, on the other hand, can help us to relax and de-stress. It can also help us to improve our sleep, our overall health, and our sense of well-being.
In addition, slow living can help us to connect with ourselves and with others. When we slow down, we have more time to be present in the moment. We can appreciate the beauty of nature, the simple pleasures of life, and the people who are important to us. Slow living can also help us to build stronger relationships with our loved ones.
So how can you start living a slower life? Here are a few tips:
- Be intentional about your time. Make a conscious effort to slow down and savor the moments.
- Disconnect from technology. Spend some time each day unplugged from your phone, computer, and other devices.
- Get outside. Spend time in nature and connect with the natural world.
- Cook at home. Take the time to cook healthy, home-cooked meals.
- Spend time with loved ones. Make time for the people who are important to you.
Slow living isn’t about giving up everything that’s fast-paced and modern. It’s about finding a balance that works for you. It’s about choosing to live a life that’s more intentional, more mindful, and more meaningful. Most days its more work but it replaces eating out with made from scratch cooking. And when we do go out to eat, we reserve those times for our most favorite and special restaurants.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your life, slow living has been an amazing lifestyle for us. So feel free to take a stab at it. Take a deep breath, slow down, and enjoy the ride.
