No Need to Rush
- Sarnav
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Consume peacefully.
We recognise that the world is changing rapidly, as are people. We prefer quick and convenient meals, and we pursue profits by any means necessary. The songs we listen to are getting faster, and we try to complete our tasks as quickly as possible. We want to move quickly and consume relentlessly. This applies to every aspect of life, whether positive or negative.
We ask ourselves, “What's all this rush and hurry, mate?”, yet we are all part of it. It's not that “everyone is like this”; we all are. Our lives have evolved into this. Those who struggle with city life are well aware of this. During our summer holidays, when we experience village life, we realise how calm and quiet everything is and how time seems to flow as though we are looking at a painting rather than a film scene.
I won't tie this to the “fear of missing out”, although that is certainly part of it. What I really want to say is something else. Finally, I will connect this to the act of reading and conclude.
Looking back, you'll remember how impressive the term “fast food” seemed when we first came across it. Everyone, young and old, embraced it. Once the chain restaurants had become established, they took over our lives and we couldn't break free. They clung to us like parasites. They even managed to tear a piece away from a culture with wonderful cuisine. As capitalism grew on a global scale, its reach wasn't limited to just a few major cities.
So what was the goal? Initially, it wasn't about “grabbing a quick bite”. People would dress up and hold meetings there. Its primary feature was its branding; it had a certain vibe. Over time, habit and practicality took precedence, revealing its true purpose. We all quickly normalised eating fast food. But what do we say now? Eat slowly, smell your food first, chew it thoroughly, and digest it properly. Bon appétit!
Eating is one of the most important and necessary everyday human acts. Opportunism forced this new concept and habit upon us. But it didn't end there: vehicles sped up, work sped up, and so did we. It was time to stop being late. Being late meant earning less, failing, and falling behind. Wasn't it always like that anyway? Panic, anxiety and worry.
Naturally, we started living our lives quickly in our own way. Even the way we walk is fast. You find yourself having to explain to friends who tell you to hurry up that you want to walk slowly. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere, and passers-by are rushing around. It's not just walking; driving is the same. It doesn't matter what kind of vehicle. Everyone is in a rush. Being late and slowing down is akin to a sin. Drivers honk their horns as soon as the traffic lights turn green.
This tension and war of nerves naturally takes its toll on our bodies. Psychologically, we are overworking ourselves. We don't notice because it's not something we do all at once. By the time we do notice, we think it's normal. It only catches our attention when someone else does it. We only get angry when it affects us. Those in a hurry get angry with those who aren't, and vice versa. Yet we are all the same at different times. That's the cycle. Traffic is the most disgusting example of this.
Yes, “speeding up” has become instinctive. In a chaotic, noisy country like ours, gaining speed is essential. Competition exists in everything, sometimes hidden and sometimes blatantly obvious. You can't afford to be slow, or you'll be left behind!
Photo by Jahanzeb Ahsan on Unsplash
We are aware of this, and this article serves as a reminder that this trend has permeated every aspect of our lives. You might ask, "What about our hobbies and enjoyable pastimes?" The situation is no different there.
For years, we have seen headlines such as “Speed reading methods!”, “Read pages in no time!” and “Learn more with this word-per-minute technique!”. The main reason for this is the exams we take. We need to speed up our reading to get through long literature questions.
This also reduces our comprehension capacity. We don't understand what we read, even in our own language. None of it retains any value. However, rest assured that this is not unique to us. According to the American Time Use Survey, the rate of reading for pleasure has dropped significantly over the last 20 years. You can read the academic article here. Reasons cited for this decline include the rise of digital media, economic pressures, reduced leisure time and inequalities in access to books and libraries. Further information is available here.
Let us also consider our own daily reading habits. It's easy to see why we love reading so much in such way, isn't it? It is also because of those rare moments when we set aside our restless activities. We read to ourselves, without rushing to finish, and we don't have to account to anyone. If we don't read, we won't miss out on anything, and if we read more slowly than usual, nobody will laugh at us. The most comforting approach is to make reading as personal as possible. If you're used to reading quickly and it suits you, carry on. The important thing is to do so without feeling anxious about keeping up with anything. Some people finish in a day, while others take ten days. What's the difference?
In fact, there has been a movement for quite some time now. It's called “Cittaslow”, or “slow city”. Towns and villages that adopt this way of life strive to live together as peacefully as possible. This involves living life to the full, taking things slowly, and savouring experiences mindfully. There are many examples around the world. Those who are curious can check out the table on this page. However, let me share some information directly from the page itself: “In June 2011, Gökçeada in Turkey became the first and only Cittaslow island. Almost ten years later, in October 2020, Izmir, Turkey's third-largest metropolitan municipality, became the world's first Cittaslow metropolis.”
Those who complain about haste are not alone. Similarly, the slow food movement promotes local produce and traditional cuisine, encouraging regional production. It is not surprising that those who favour tranquillity are more at peace with nature.
Let us return to our topic. We were talking about reading slowly. Of course, “slow reading” is also part of the same philosophy. The important thing is not to finish quickly, but to read properly. You may have heard that organised outdoor reading events are becoming popular. As far as I know, these events take place at certain times of the year, but they are slowly becoming a trend in some countries. Silent book cafés are also becoming more popular. People gather to read, draw and knit, and phones are turned off. Technology again plays the role of the “villain”, I know. I don't need to convince you of this. We've all seen how instant communication tools have replaced letter writing.
So, what can we do, both as individuals and as a society?
Firstly, we should recognise that movements such as Cittaslow are more effective than we realise. Even if we don't live in a Cittaslow location, we can adopt this mindset and apply it to our reading habits.
I know it won't happen in our country, but according to an article about Denmark — a normal country with a 100% literacy rate — “the book sales tax was reduced by 25% due to the alarming reading crisis”. Needless to say, if book prices fell in our country, we would buy more books. I can't promise anything about reading habits. But we could expect a general increase.
Another suggestion is to read with children. As parents, reading to or with our children will, understandably, slow down the process. On top of that, it is undoubtedly very valuable for them.
My personal experience, which I am proud to mention, is joining a book club. The number of book clubs has started to increase. Online meetings quickly became part of our daily routine, a habit acquired during the pandemic. Reading together became a new activity and experience. This is where the social aspect comes in, allowing us to break away from our individuality.
The excitement of meeting up while reading helps us clarify our thoughts, both positive and negative. We don't have to love every book, sometimes we can't even finish them! That's OK. What matters is the effort we put in, the sense of community we experience, and the spark of insight we gain from others' ideas. All of these things are part of the reading and understanding process. Sometimes, no matter how slowly we read, we need others to reinforce our understanding. This is natural and enjoyable.
Whether or not we see reading, writing and literature as a slow form of meditation and reap its benefits is entirely up to us.